Govt to check dumping of bulk drugs from China: Ahir

Government will take steps to check import of bulk drugs from China, which is dumping the pharmaceutical ingredients in the country, a Union minister said today.
Minister of State for Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said there is tremendous scope for growth of pharma sector in India and the government believes in 'Make in India' principle.
He was speaking at the National Pharmaceuticals Conclave organised by CII here.
"China is challenge in front of us. We are aware that there is need for changes in policy .... It is dumping bulk drugs here. We will discuss and take necessary steps to check the imports of bulk drugs from China," Ahir added.

The Minister also advocated for higher coordination between research institutes and industry adding, "Our students can challenge anyone in the world and thus we can be the leading manufacturers."
A bulk drug or active pharmaceutical ingredient adds therapeutic effect to medicine.

Earlier, Union Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar had said that India is largely dependent on China for imports of drug ingredients of 12 essential drugs which are in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
Kumar had added that a Committee of Secretaries had already been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Health Research to study and identify the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of critical importance.

Government had decided to work out a package of interventions and concessions required to build domestic production capabilities and examine the cost implication, Kumar added.
Meanwhile speaking at the same event, Pharmaceuticals Secretary V K Subburaj said that government is soon to come up with Bulk Drugs policy that will have various concessions for all stakeholders of the pharmaceuticals sector.
The policy will have various concessions for all stakeholders of the pharmaceuticals sector so that it is put on the growth trajectory, Subburaj said.