Govt may expand drug storage space at airports

Repeated demands by the pharmaceutical industry has prompted government agencies to look at the possibility of having additional cold chain facilities at airports for drug storage.

A senior official from the department of pharmaceuticals (ministry of chemicals and fertilisers) said, “About 21 possible airports have been identified for adding cold chain capacity.

However, in the first phase we are looking at Delhi and possibly Chennai airports and talks are on with these airport operators. The airport operators will be allowed to charge a user development fee for leasing out space.”

The additional capacity at Delhi and Chennai airports is expected to be deployed over the next two to three years. “We have recommended that the facilities be added at the earliest to meet the growing need and to maintain high international standards.

The complaints by the pharma industry that the quality of medicines transported through air routes suffer due to lack of a proper storage system will be solved to a large extent,” said the official.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is expected to create 3,000-4,000 square meters of additional cold room facilities for pharma products.

We are currently only looking at the needs of the pharma companies, said the official. The existing cold chain facility at Delhi is about 400-500 square metres. A committee comprising representatives from the departments of health, pharma and civil aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) along with private airport operators will be coordinating the capacity addition.

According to reports, the Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) created four new cold rooms for pharma products in late 2009 and has also provided training to its staff to comply with the standard operating procedures.

The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) had earlier asked for increasing the current facilities for maintaining the exact and constant temperature conditions during transit, which are essential to retain the efficacy of drugs and vaccines.

Besides the cold rooms, OPPI had asked for shelter for goods while loading, transfer of goods to cold rooms or to aircraft for incoming and outgoing consignments and use of refrigerated vans.

The cold chain market in India can be divided into two segments, surface storage and refrigerated transport. Surface storage, which forms 88 percent of the cold chain market, is valued at Rs 8,800 crores and is expected to reach Rs 35,200 crores by 2015.