Ensure no unfair practices in pharma industry: Prez

Anguished over manufacture of spurious drugs and unethical practices in the Pharmaceutical industry, President Pratibha Patil today said there was need for the industry and health care organisations to ensure quality and safety of medicines.

"It is the responsibility of every health care provider and health care organisation to ensure that quality and safety of medicines are not compromised. There are instances of spurious drugs, which are harmful, being produced. This is a crime and an unethical practice," she said.

Patil was speaking after inaugurating the 71st World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences organised here by International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and Indian Pharmaceutical Association.

"It should not be left to the Government alone to identify such unscrupulous producers. The industry must also have a wing to find out such practices and bring it to the notice of the Government," she said.

The President said about 50 per cent of drugs worldwide are prescribed, dispensed, or sold "inappropriately" which becomes a major reason for health complications and called for efforts from the industry to curb the misuse.

Patil said the Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to become a $20 billion industry by 2015, from its present turnover of $12 billion.

She said though medical science has made tremendous progress, "it is a matter of concern that a very large part of the world population, mostly in developing countries, has inadequate or no access to health care or essential medicines at affordable cost."