Govt looking into suggestions to strengthen bulk drugs sector

The government is examining the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee to strengthen the bulk drugs industry, Parliament was informed today. 

The government had set up a committee headed by Secretary, Department of Health Research, to look into the issues of bulk drugs/active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). 

"The recommendations of the committee are being examined in consultation with the stakeholders. Once they are implemented, it would provide a road map for strengthening the bulk drug/API industry", Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said in a reply to Lok Sabha. 

The committee was mandated to study the whole issue of APIs of critical importance by identifying important APIs and then work out a package of interventions and concessions to build the domestic production capabilities and examine the cost implications, Kumar added.