- SMEs are growth engines of any industry. Pharma SMEs in India need a boost by way of plant upgradation and GMP training. If given the right support, they can become excellent exporters and quality contract manufacturers
- Prices of medicines in India are amongst the lowest in the world. While there can be further scope for improvement we should not over-stretch it. Drug prices in India are just stabilising after DPCO 2013. Further changes in NLEM list can bring instability and affect availability.
- FDCs are preferred by the medical profession in India due to their efficacy, convenience and economy. While there may be a few irrational FDCs there are many FDCs that need to be continued for patients’ benefits.
- NDDS and formulation R&D need to be encouraged to bring innovative and patentable dosage forms.
Top priority areas
- Increase healthcare spend to atleast four per cent
- Step up medical insurance in a big way
- Bulk drug industry needs special financial package.
- R&D investments need to be subsidised .
- Give exports incentives to enhance our global market share of pharma products
– S V Veerramani, President, IDMA