Medium and small scale drug manufacturing units in Madhya Pradesh have alleged that they are being ignored in the new drug manufacturing policy of the state government, likely to be effective from March this year.
Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Sangh has alleged the state government has “deliberately ignored” them, providing no protection like that provided to MSMEs in states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The government has roped in Tamil Nadu Medical Supply Corporation to float tenders on its behalf after deciding rates and list of medicines and equipment required at various hospitals and facilities.
“The policy is to provide support to big companies as the Tamil Nadu Medical Corporation will float tenders at the national level. We will have to compete with big players, while the Tamil Nadu government has protected their SSIs in their own policy,” an office bearer of MP Laghu Udyog Sangh told BS.
The corporation is going to float tender for supply of medicines and necessary equipment this week. Though a committee will monitor the process, the corporation will fix rates of procurement and prepare list of fast moving medicines for state hospitals and those run by gas relief department. The state has also allowed local medical officers to procure medicines and necessary equipment up to Rs 5 lakh. The corporation will also decide supply rates of medicines and equipment to be used in medical institutes. “As many as 150 companies make medicines and can cater to approximately 90 per cent of the demand of the state. Earlier state entity MP Laghu Udyog Nigam was also entrusted the task of floating tenders at the national level. The government is not concerned about the local manufacturers,” the office bearer said.
Speaking to BS, health secretary SR Mohanti said, “My prime concern is to ensure quality medicines to hospitals, they (MSMEs) can participate in the tenders and can supply. Moreover MP firms are the largest supplier of drugs all over India.”
