Real-world data capturing of Drug-Drug interactions of traditional medicines for optimization of their therapeutic utility

Significant advances in information and technology, globalization, and increased awareness of health, limitations of conventional medicine, and awareness of the significance of natural, traditional medicines are leading to a constantly increasing global demand for traditional medicine, which in turn can lead to the practice of polypharmacy and susceptibility to drug-drug interactions. Although the role of traditional medicines in universal health coverage, public health has been well acknowledged globally, paucity on their drug-drug interactions is one among the major hurdles for its mass level globalization and easy, hassle-free incorporation into national health policy. Several countries have an integrative health care policy, but many more run a parallel health care system at the national level. There is a dire need for a policy framework, models, plans to continuously evaluate, monitor, analyse, and convey the safety of Traditional medicine (TM) with respect to drug-drug interactions. The article elaborates the need, scope, and challenges in monitoring, analysing drug-drug interactions of traditional medicines for optimization of their therapeutic utility and suggests a way forward with excerpts of integration of Ayush medicines; TMs of India in national health policy, health care delivery, and pharmacovigilance monitoring as used case.