NEW DELHI, FEB 18: "The Indian pharmaceutical industry will have to improve their standards and adopt internationally recognised manufacturing practices," the Minister said."In India, where general poverty and wide disparities in levels of income exists and the health insurance as well as state social security coverage is inadequate special efforts are required to ensure availability of essential medicines of good quality at reasonable prices,''said Barnala while inaugurating the national conference on pharmaceutical industry seminar organised jointly by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The minister said that research and development (R&D) was of paramount importance in the pharmaceutical industry and said that there is a challenge before the Indian industry to orient its R&D projects towards the need of the country. Pharmaceutical companies in developed economies have been highly selective in their research priorities, he added.About 450 new drugs have been introduced in the world market during the decade 1983-92, of which the cardiovascular drugs and drugs required for central nervous system ailments and infectious diseases accounted for 75 per cent. Drugs for tropical diseases which are our main concern accounted for only one per cent of the total number of drugs discovered, he said.Barnala also pointed out that research is needed not only for new molecules but also into existing drugs. It will mean research into local diseases, rational dosages without compromising on treatment, better compliance by patients, better delivery system and above all reduction in the overall cost of treatment. The market forces, pressures on prices and profits and the rapid technological changes have led to a spate of mega strategic alliances at the international level, the minister said.He urged the industry to extend its patronage to the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) by utilising its services and contributing liberally to its further development. NIPER has been set up as an institute of excellence to meet the industry needs in the areas of pharmaceutical education, research and manpower training.G P Goenka, Senior Vice President of FICCI later said that one of the ways in which basic research can be undertaken is by means of collaborative efforts between industry, academia and the government. It has been proved in various countries that such partnerships are excellent vehicles for leap-frogging in science and technology front.
