A strategy is being worked out by Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) in association with national research institutes to reduce the dependence on China and Italy for import of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API s) and intermediates, Director General of Pharmexcil Ravi Uday Bhaskar said here on Friday.
“India has been largely dependent on China for API imports until recently. China used to sell API s at lower prices due to their lower labour costs. The profit margin on API s used to be low and Indian drug manufacturers thought it was wise to import APIs, make formulation drugs and export them,” Mr. Uday Bhaskar told The Hindu on the sidelines of a seminar on ‘Shifting pharma industry from Schedule-M to WHO-GMP compliance’ here.
China has started purchasing APIs from India and is concentrating on manufacture of formulation drugs. “All countries are thinking of reducing their healthcare expenditure. These nations are looking towards India and China for the supply of drugs at lower prices,” he said.
On the role of Pharmexcil in the promotion of exports, Mr. Uday Bhaskar said that the main objective of the council was to promote pharma exports by acting as a facilitator between Indian and foreign manufacturers and the respective governments by extending incentives, concessions and providing a platform for Indian exporters to display their products at international exhibitions.
Exclusive clusters
The council would recommend to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the need to set up exclusive clusters for the manufacture of basic chemicals and intermediates at various places in the country to meet the growing demand.
