The Hindu Business Line : Industry outnumbered in pharma advisory forum

STRENGTH in numbers is something that the domestic drug industry will not have on the recently constituted Pharmaceutical Advisory Forum, say industry representatives.

The forum, under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, was notified in late July with the objective of initiating a dialogue among stakeholders on issues related to the Drug Policy (read production and pricing).

However, the constitution of the forum has sent a shiver down the spines of sections of the domestic drug industry. "The strength of the Forum is about 172-odd, largely constituted by Health Ministers, drug controllers, chemist associations, non-government and consumer organisations — from States and Union Territories. Only five representatives (of the 172) will be from pharma industry associations. In addition to this, there are Ministry representatives from the Centre, from the Ministries of Health and Chemicals and Fertilisers, respectively," pharma industry sources said.

Industry representatives apprehend: "If such an overwhelming number of the Forum is constituted by regulatory authorities, trade representatives and consumer forums - the pharma industry will be out-numbered and not heard on issues that govern the fate of the drug industry. It will become more of politics and emotions, rather than economically-sound discussions to benefit the industry and the consumer."

A Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry official, told Business Line: "It will not be a shouting match, so the industry need not worry. They will be heard. While the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is there for first hand information, the Forum will basically get feedback from the field on prices and production. The Union Minister had started this with fertiliser and wanted to repeat the same with pharmaceuticals as well."

But drug industry representatives lament: "Pharmaceuticals is a knowledge based industry and earns 40 per cent of its total revenue from the overseas market. But the Forum has no representation from the scientific community to provide a perspective on R&D and none from foreign trade for a global perspective."