Government plans to improve bulk drug manufacturing capacities

New Delhi: The government will shortly come out with strategies to improve bulk drug manufacturing capacity in India in order to reduce dependence on China for import of bulk drugs. "We are importing 70-80 per cent bulk drugs from China. We will shortly come out with strategies to improve our bulk drug capacity in India. There was a time when India was producing bulk drugs in a big way and now nothing," Pharmaceuticals Secretary V K Subburaj said at an event organised by industry body Assocham. He said the committee set up by the government has  submitted its recommendations and the Department of Pharmaceuticals is examining it and will come out with its strategies shortly.   

These strategies will be part of the proposed bulk drug pharma policy. In order to help bulk drugs manufacturing in India, the government is also working on a revival package for Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL). "Right now, HAL is not producing anything. They have working capital problems. But they have big 270 acres land in Pune. We have worked out a revival package for HAL which will go to the cabinet very shortly," Subburaj said. The Maharashtra-based HAL was the first drug-manufacturing unit in the country to commercially produce  antibiotics.   

Subburaj said the government will also look at reviving  Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL). The government is in discussion with state government including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to create bulk drug capacities. "In 10 years time, our bulk drug dependence on China should reduce significantly. Concern is dependence on a single source," he added.