The Hindu Business Line : Key issues on pharma before new Govt

But with key issues relating to spurious drugs, patents and animal trials lying at the doorstep of the new Government at the Centre, the health and pharmaceutical segment may just end up feeling the chill, one way or the other.

The death penalty for spurious drug manufacturers may see a softening in terms of a stiff penalty other than capital punishment, say industry top-brass. While the spurious drugs issue was brought to the fore from within the pharma industry - representatives of the out-going NDA government had stolen the thunder from them.

Successive Health Ministers Mr Shatrughan Sinha and Ms Sushma Swaraj had made emotional pleas for the death penalty to "merchants of death" or the makers of fake medicines. But voices from within the NDA government had pleaded for a rational, though tough .

The Patents Third Amendment Bill is pending in the wings, waiting to become an Act. The Bill is important given that it legalises product patents, in-line with global commitments. Another interesting inside drama playing itself out is with regard to the political fortunes of animal rights activist Ms Maneka Gandhi. She had single handedly put animal trials (where drugs are tested on animals) undertaken by pharma companies under the scanner.

But for now the pharma industry is watching the developments - who will be the next incumbent at Nirman Bhavan or the Health Ministry and the Chemicals and Fertilizer Ministry, the apex ministry for the pharma segment.

"The reform process may be driven more from the heart, than the mind, depending on what the final coalition at the Centre will be. However, given that the Congress was the initial architect of the reforms process, there is unlikely to be any let up. The pace, however, will be dependant on the coalition partners," said Mr Ranjit Shahani, President, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), a platform of multinational pharma companies.

Mr Dara Patel, Secretary General of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA), hoped that the new Government would take up its concern and send the Patents Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, before it is placed before Parliament.