Dependence on China hitting pharma industry, says report

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 28

Over-dependence of the domestic pharmaceutical industry for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) on China has adversely effected the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. It has also hit the country’s access to essential medicines, jeopardising the national health security, says the ASSOCHAM-WorkSure Report released during a conference organised on APIs: Reducing Dependence on Imports at Baddi today.

China accounts for 85 per cent of India’s total APIs import worth $3.9 billion which was a reflection of the over-dependence of the country on China, says the report which was released by the local MLA Ramkumar Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said, “India is likely to be among the top three pharmaceutical markets by incremental growth”. He laid stress on the use of Good Manufacturing Practices and said a bulk drug park had already been announced for the Baddi industrial area which would give impetus to the industry here.

Dr Gopal Munjal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ind-Swift Group, said the existing and new API manufacturers should explore the uncharted territories and focus on high-value niche segments.

Prof KK Bhutani, Officiating Director, NIPER-Mohali, said “The domestic API manufacturers should focus on quality as this will fetch more foreign direct investments while also creating more jobs.

Navneet Marwaha, State Drug Controller, said taking cognizance of the overdependence of APIs on China, the government was taking firm steps to make India self-sufficient in APIs by 2020. He said various initiatives, including Make in India, to simplify the existing policies, remove hurdles and regulatory clearances to strengthen the domestic pharmaceutical market and reduce dependence on China were under way.

He also spoke on quality control and said one of the major problems in quality control was lack of field staff. Various reports suggest that there are barely 1,500 drug inspectors responsible for more than 10,000 industrial units in India which is far short than the optimum strength required for effective monitoring.