New Delhi: The newly implemented code to control unethical practices in the pharma industry is self-regulatory but an ethics panel will keep a watch out on illegal practices, Union secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Arunish Chawla told ThePrint in an interview.
On 12 March, the Department issued a policy communication to all pharmaceutical associations, enclosing the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices 2024, or UCPMP 2024, for dissemination among its members and urging its strict adherence.
“The code practices are self-regulatory, but it will be watched by an ethics committee constituted by members of the pharma associations, although a special auditor panel will check when required,” Chawla told ThePrint.
The code gains significance given that Patanjali Ayurved is facing heat from the Supreme Court over its misleading advertisements regarding their herbal products.
Implemented to facilitate ethical marketing practices for pharmaceutical companies, the UCPMP prohibits pharma companies and their agents from offering or providing gifts for personal benefit of any healthcare professionals or their family members.
Regarding the complaints of non-availability of commonly used drugs at Janasudhi Kendras, Chawla spoke about steps such as tracking via mobile application. “Through this app, consumers can track information such as the nearest centre, availability of drugs.”
“We are also expanding the reach of Janasudhi Kendras through the women self-help groups to achieve the target of 25,000 centres in coming years. Janausudhi is a great success story. It is a great story of providing cheap and quality drugs at the doorstep of people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chawla said that the government’s priority for the next five years is to establish a value chain for vaccine and biological molecules and to position India as a manufacturing hub of medical devices and bulk drugs.
“Our ministry has three priorities for the next five years. The first is to establish a value chain mechanism for active ingredient, biomolecules and vaccines as most of these ingredients are imported. Covid was a big learning for every one when the entire world supply chain was disturbed,” he said..
Active ingredients are those in a formula like a drug that perform the biologically active effect on the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or problem.
Biomolecules are substances produced by cells of living organisms. The four main types are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids; these are required in biological and pharmacological development and testing for drugs, vaccines, and therapeutics.
Chawla further said the focus is now to give drugs, pharma and med-tech manufacturing a big push. “Our production linked incentive (PLI) schemes have achieved great success. The government has announced PLI schemes under the sector covering pharmaceutical, bulk drugs and medical devices. Already Rs 25,000 crore-plus investment has come in, and our target has been achieved,” he said.
“Our exports have been growing… The Indian pharma industry exported more than 50 percent of output (in FY24). Earlier, we used to depend on imports for most medical devices. This industry stood at $10-11 billion but we will surge to $30-40 billion by 2030. This sector is a sunrise industry. And to capitalise on this growth, we initiated the PLI schemes,” Chawla said.
✅Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates 27 Greenfield Bulk Drug Park projects and 13 Greenfield Manufacturing Plants for Medical Devices under the PLI Scheme
Details 👇https://t.co/B95KycOcFi pic.twitter.com/NTgxmPZbmh
— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) March 2, 2024
In this regard, he mentioned about greenfield plants inaugurated last month to produce bulk drug and manufacturing medical devices.
“CT scan, MRI machines which used to be imported, are going to be manufactured in India. Exports are growing in double digits. This initiative shows the beginning of our journey towards self-reliance in medical device manufacturing.”
The focus is not only manufacturing but to make quality products and meet international stand criteria, Chawla said. “India has arrived, and the pharma industry and medi-tech industry will be a torchbearer of India’s prestige on the world map.”
“We have the best doctors in the world. Our medical tourism industry is booming and our manufacturing push will position India as a global pharmacy and manufacturing hub. Alf of our $50 billion in export is directed towards supplying quality drugs. India is supplying 20 percent of generic medicine to more than 150 countries. In the critical vaccine segment, India accounts for 60 percent of world supply,” he asserted.
On a question of skilled manpower challenges, he said various initiatives were taken to produce high quality professionals through courses like M.Pharma and M.Tech.
“To bridge the gap, it is essential to have skilled professionals capable of running and handling complex devices. NIPERs produce M.Tech and M. Pharm degree holders who form the backbone of our industry,” Chawla added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Govt move to review drug pricing mechanism triggers concern as pharma industry invited to join panel