The Hindu Business Line : Concern over delay in finalising pharmaceutical policy

New Delhi, May 8 The Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has expressed concern over the delay in finalisation of the pharmaceutical policy.

Participating at the meeting held here to discuss the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) policy, members urged the Government to bring the essential drugs under price control.

They expressed apprehension that a lobby is working to stall the passage and Government should find ways to get it passed at the earliest.

The new pharmaceutical policy was referred to the Group of Ministers which has so far held four meetings. A list of 354 drugs prepared by the Ministry of Health, considered as essential drugs will be brought under the price control regime once the policy is approved.

Production at PSUs

Members of the Consultative Committee also urged the Government to increase production at the public sector undertakings under its control which can soften prices in the market.

The Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, said the Government has already revived Hindustan Antibiotics, Hindustan Insecticide, BCPL and HOCL while revival of IDPL is under the active consideration of the Group of Ministers.

On the PCPIR policy, the Minister said, the new policy to give fillip to investment in the sector and expand employment opportunity. The new policy envisages provision of world class infrastructure over an area of about 250 sq km in each investment region where the external linkages such as air port, rail connectivity and national highways will be provided by the Central Government while the internal linkages will be the responsibility of the State Government. About 40 per cent of the area will be the processing zone in each investment region.

Mr Paswan said land acquisition has to be done by the developer and the existing habitations will not be disturbed.

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