Instead of cough syrup testing, need to go for root-cause analysis: Bhaskar

Pharmaceutical exports from India have come under the scanner after sporadic incidents of contaminated or substandard medicines

Pharmaceutical exports from India have come under the scanner after sporadic cases of contaminated or substandard medicines. These incidents have led the government to ask cough syrup exporters to test their batches at central drugs laboratories (CDLs) before them shipping abroad. Udaya Bhaskar, director general of the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) in a telephonic conversation with Sohini Das shares his views on the matter. Edited excerpts:

How are pharma exports from India doing in 2023-24?

Last financial year, India exported $25.4 billion worth of pharmaceutical products, registering growth of 3.25 per cent year-on-year (YoY). For the current financial year,