Pharma policy likely to be delayed further

The group of ministers (GoM) looking into the draft pharma policy is unlikely to come out with its final recommendations soon. The delay has been caused by the inconclusive two meetings it has had in the last seven months. The next meeting may not happen before November, sources in the chemicals ministry say.

The seven-member GoM, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, heard the chemical ministry's views on the draft pharma policy in its first meeting in April this year. The second meeting, on September 12, saw industry representatives giving their comments on the draft policy. The GoM may have to meet at least two more times before it can take a final view, sources say. The GoM's recommendations are being keenly awaited by the industry as the draft policy calls for bringing more medicines under price control. Any delay in the GoM's recommendations will be in the interest of the industry as it finds the present policy, which controls prices of only 30 per cent medicines, a "lesser evil" than the new proposals.

In addition to expanding the price contol net, the draft policy suggested measures like public-private partnerships for supply of drugs for cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases requiring long-term treatment at affordable prices. It also proposed encouragement of public-private partnerships to help below poverty line families, concessional prices for government procurement and more competition.

Addressing the second GoM meeting last week, a joint pharmaceutical industry delegation "" representing Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association, Confederation of Indian Small Pharmaceutical Industries and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry "" lamented that the proposed policy sought to expand the cost-based system of price control to cover 60 per cent of the market.