The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) hosted its 48th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on September 27. The event saw all sections of the industry come together to felicitate Nihchal H Israni, Chairman, Blue Cross Laboratories, who received the first ever OPPI Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his contribution to the Indian pharmaceutical industry for over six decades.
The emphasis remained on collaboration within industry, with Government and with all relevant stakeholders. Various speakers highlighted the industry’s concerns on access to quality healthcare and continued advocacy for an environment that allows innovation in medicine.
“We now have a Government with a decisive mandate to fulfil its promises of good governance, transparency in policy making and a corruption-free pro-growth agenda. The pharma industry is ready and eager to join hands with the new Government to address the complex challenge of access to quality and affordable healthcare for all the people of our country,” said Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, President, OPPI.
Also present at the AGM were Prof Ashish Nanda, Director, IIM, Ahmedabad as Chief Guest; Dr NK Ganguly, Former Director General, ICMR as a special guest; top executives of pharma companies; key opinion leaders; and media persons.
Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI announced the office bearers for the year and pointed out, “India needs a supportive ecosystem that balances the need for innovation with the necessity for more accessible medicines. OPPI remains committed to partnering with Government to help fulfil the dream of quality healthcare for all.”
The event also included a patient group discussion moderated by Dr Hemant Thacker which stressed the importance of innovative treatments. Patients shared experiences of their battle with life threatening diseases. Their struggles highlighted the need for new medicines that help combat diseases, which affect the common man.
The annual awards for original research and innovation in the field of pharmaceutical sciences in India were presented. Prof Sandeep Verma, Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur, received the scientist award, Prof Rohit Srivastava, Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering, IIT Bombay and Dr Abhishek Sen, Co- founder, Biosense Technologies received the Young Scientists Award, Dr Roshan Behram Colah, National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH), ICMR received the Woman Scientist Award.
Dr HR Nanji Memorial OPPI Marketing Excellence Awards 2014 were bagged by MSD for their brand ViraferonPeg in the existing products category while Ranbaxy’s Silodal won top honours in the new products category. The OPPI Best Vendor Awards 2014 went to Hetero Pharma in the contract manufacturing category and S N Enterprises in the Carrying & Forwarding Agents (CFAs) category. The OPPI Sales Force Excellence Awards 2014 was bagged by Pfizer for their project ‘I Connect’.
EP News Bureau- Mumbai