Inter-ministerial panel formed to look into problem of API shortage in India: Centre to RS

An inter-ministerial committee has been constituted to look into the problem of shortage of active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs) in the country and for enhancing their production indigenously, Union Minister Mansukhlal Mandavia told Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Replying to supplementary queries during the Question Hour, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers said these are such APIs which were imported from China before the coronavirus outbreak.

APIs are bulk drugs or raw materials used for manufacturing medicines.

"In America, one in every four generic medicines consumed are made in India. One in every six medicines consumed in the world are manufactured in India," he told the Rajya Sabha members, adding the pharmaceutical sector imports and exports many APIs.

Responding to a query by a House member, Mandavia said, "The member is right in saying that India is dependent on China for import on many APIs. We have identified 53 such APIs for which we have to depend on China."