The Department of Pharmaceuticals , Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in collaboration with WHO Country Office for India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organized the Sixth India Pharma Summit 2014-15 on 23 March 2015 at Mumbai.
The theme for this year's deliberations was "Policy Landscape Reforms for Strengthening Indian Pharmaceutical Industry". Several important issues for the progress of the Indian pharmaceutical industry were deliberated, including critical verticals to foster access to pharmaceuticals at national and international level, promoting production and technology adoption in pharmaceutical enterprises for meeting national and global public health needs, regulatory issues and challenges for medical devices and diagnostics.
Honourable Minister of State, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir stated that, “Indian pharmaceutical industry has been playing a pivotal role in supply of affordable and quality pharmaceuticals to the developed and developing countries. The Government of India aims at making India a global leader in end-to-end drug manufacture and is taking several steps to ensure progress of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry at both national and international levels. The Department of Pharmaceuticals plans to launch 1000 Jan Aushadi stores in the country this year. The Department of Pharmaceuticals plans to develop skill sets and institutionalise a single window clearance for approvals. The Department of Pharmaceuticals is also going to recognize the Indian pharma industry by providing Indian Pharma Awards commencing this year.”
The Indian pharma industry has made significant progress in access to medicines both at national & international levels during the past decades. Although India has been the global supplier of high quality medicines, maintaining continuous access to essential medicines remains a challenge to the health system. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has been continually enabling the Indian pharmaceuticals industry to play a leading role in the global market and to ensure abundant availability of good quality medicines at reasonable prices within the country for mass consumption.
The summit provided a platform to various departments of the government in contributing to the vision for the development of a policy framework for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in India. Dr Satish Reddy, Chairman, Dr Reddy’s laboratories highlighted that “Indian pharmaceutical industry is at present at a tipping point. India needs to continue with this momentum, with the focus on affordability, availability and access to pharmaceuticals including critical issues viz bulk drug manufacturing, quality standards of drugs and research and development“
Like last year, the summit witnessed a convergence of stakeholders from Indian and global pharma industry, regulators and policy makers. Senior officials including Dr VK Subburaj, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Mr Sudhansh Pant, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Dr M Ariz Ahammed, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Dr Habil Khorakiwala, Chairman FICCI Life Sciences Council, Past President FICCI and Chairman Wockhardt Group; Mr. Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director, Sun Pharma; Mr. Satish Reddy, Chairman, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; and Mr S V Veeramani, President, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association & Chairman, Fourrts (India) Laboratories Pvt Limited were present at the meeting. WHO officials included Dr Josephine Hansen, Dr Manisha Shridhar, Mr Frans Stobbelaar and Dr Madhur Gupta.