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The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has constituted a ‘Think Tank’ with a group of 30 members from industry, researchers from national research laboratories like Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), and industry associations like IDMA and BDMA to meet together and discusses upon the issues concerning the excess imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients and some of key standard materials (KSMs) from neighbouring China.
“Excess dependence on China is really a big issue of concern for India in the long run. If China stops supplying its raw materials suddenly then the Indian pharmaceutical industry both domestic and exports will crumble down and will have to face severe consequences. To overcome this, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and Ministry of Commerce under the chairmanship of joint secretary Sudhanshu Pandy had already held 3 meetings with scientists and industry players to come out with ideas and strategies to develop cost effective and reliable technology for mass manufacture important and essential APIs and KSMs and help India in self sustaining its pharmaceutical sector,” informed Ravi Uday Bahskar, Director General, Pharmexcil.
As part of this, Pharmexcil has formed a ‘Think Tank’ for the first time constituting 30 experts from different fields of their expertise which include 10 senior scientists from IICT, ICT and other National Research Laboratories, about 10 members from industry organizations like Bulk Drugs Manufacturing Association (BDMA) and Indian Drugs Manufacturers” Associations (IDMA) and from Pharmexcil. The main objective of this think tank is to sit together, discuss and identify important APIs which are being imported and at the same time understand its chemistry and identify expert institutions within the country who can develop new technologies with advancements which can comply with both environmental norms and at the same time able to produce those products at affordable costs.
“Pharmexcil has already set up a special innovation desk and appointed a senior scientists who will coordinate with scientists from research institutions and Industry and facilitate constant interaction to help evolve a strategy to reduce our industry’s excess dependence on imports of API,” said the DG.
Already two meetings of experts from Industry, researchers, regulators and policy makers have been held in Mumbai, where more than 80 experts have met on 7th February and 9th March and a 3rd meeting of experts from IICT and other National Laboratories was also held in Hyderabad on 7th April this year. During all these meetings a positive thought of developing a strong manufacturing base for API’s in India is taking shape.
Pharmexcil sets up ‘think tank, possibilities of reducing api imports from china
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