The Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has assured that its members have enough stocks of APIs and formulations.

 

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has informed that they have not received any reference regarding shortage of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. The organisation has also informed that they have not received any information from pharma associations regarding steep increase in the price of medicines due to outbreak of COVID-19 in China. NPPA is monitoring the situation regularly to ensure that ceiling prices of essential medicines are not breached.

 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Eshwara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to address the issue of drug security in the country in the context of novel coronavirus outbreak in China. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the department has issued necessary instructions to NPPA and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to ensure adequate supply of APIs and formulations at affordable prices in the market and to prevent black-marketing, illegal hoarding, creating artificial shortages in the country.

 

The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest in the world in terms of volume and 14th largest in terms of value. India exported medicines worth $14.4 bn in Financial Year 2018-19. India also exported Bulk Drug/Drug Intermediates worth $3.9 bn in Financial Year 2018-19. However, the country also imports various Bulk Drugs/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for producing medicines. Two-thirds of the total imports of bulk drugs/drug intermediates is from China. 

 

The policies formulated by the government from time to time are designed to minimize the country's dependence on imports and to give a fillip to indigenous manufacturing.