Committee to monitor bulk drug parks

Source: The post is based on the article “Committee to monitor bulk drug parks” published in the Livemint on 17th November.

What is the News?

The department of pharmaceuticals has set up a high-level committee to monitor the progress of bulk drug parks that are being set up in three states. The parks in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are aimed at ensuring India’s drug security through a steady supply of bulk drug active ingredients.

About the high-level committee to monitor bulk drug parks

Headed by: Mansukh Mandaviya, Union minister of chemical and fertilizer.

Aim: To focus on specific bulk drugs which India is importing in order to reduce import dependence.

Function: The state of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will present the details of design, strategy of selection of industrial units along with the list of bulk drugs going to be manufactured in the parks. This is to ensure that through the scheme, the intended objectives of domestic manufacturing of critical bulk drugs are achieved. All this will be done well before the allotment of plots.

The committee will facilitate the alignment of investments in the bulk drug parks with pharmaceutical industry requirements and public health needs. It will further facilitate the transfer of technology and other interventions required to achieve the objectives.

About India’s bulk drug imports

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world by volume. However, the country is significantly dependent on import of basic raw materials, the ingredients that are used to produce medicines.

In some specific bulk drugs the import dependence is 80 to 100%. Any disruption in supplies can have significant impact on drug security, which is also linked to the overall economy of the country.