Not what the doctor ordered

Many aspects of the new pharma policy need to be improved

The draft pharmaceutical policy, released last week, seeks to balance the interests of patients and the pharmaceutical industry, and makes the right noises about improved quality, greater affordability and ‘Make in India.’ It is true that there is much in the policy that represents a significant step forward. For one, the insistence that manufacturing of drugs be subject to World Health Organization standards is an important improvement. This will, of course, require beefing up the cadre of inspectors under the Drug Controller General of India. And it is welcome that the policy says that the Drug Price Control Order will