Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel on Monday reiterated India’s status as a “pharmacy of the world,” as she said that 70% of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) total vaccines are sourced from India.
She further noted that 14 per cent of the generics imported by the United States come from India.
Patel made these remarks during her keynote address at the inaugural session of the four-day Second Policymakers’ Forum, organized by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC). The forum brings together key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to discuss policies, innovation, and global health issues.
Aimed at promoting the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia and collaboration in India’s flagship affordable medicines initiative—the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the Forum is being organised by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the aegis of the Union Health Ministry, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs.
An international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 24 countries is participating in the forum that has brought together policymakers and senior drug regulatory officials from 22 countries including Liberia, Togo, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Rwanda, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea among others, reaffirming India’s position as a valued and trusted partner in the realm of global health.
Patel also emphasised India’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality-assured medicines and stressed the importance of regulatory harmonization in facilitating global health equity.
Underlining the importance of the Jan Aushadi Kendras, Patel stated that “our Jan Aushadhi Kendras are the shining examples of India’s commitment to provide quality and affordable medicines to all our citizens. Jan Aushadhi has been one of the most powerful instruments of bringing down the out-of-pocket expenditure of our citizens.”
Highlighting India’s strides made in the direction of providing vaccines, Patel stated that “India continues to be a leading supplier of vaccines. As much as 70% of WHO's total vaccines are sourced from India.”
Also, “India continues to be a leader in drug manufacturing, especially when it comes to the generic medicines. 14% of generics imported by the US come from India while India also has the maximum number of US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recognized drug manufacturing plants.”
She further underlined that “70% of our generics are exported to the highly regulated markets and our pharmacopeial regulations are regularly visited to meet the global benchmarks.”
Patel further stated that “we have retained the WHO’s Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) framework, Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status which reflects the robustness of India's regulatory framework. Presently, 15 countries in the world recognise Indian Pharmacopeia as a book of standards for drugs, Cuba recently becoming the 15th country to recognise the Indian Pharmacopeia.”
Addressing the gathering, Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava said, “We have established more than 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly known as Health and Wellness Centres) where free drugs and diagnostics are provided.”
She also talked about India’s health assurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) that provides a health coverage of up to 5 lakhs per family and caters to the 40% population of the country and highlighted that “in 2004, the share of out-of-pocket expenditure in total health expenditure was 70%, which has come down to 40% today.”
Rajiv Wadhawan, Advisor (Cost), Union Health Ministry; Dr. Ranga Chandrasekhar, Joint Drugs Controller; and Ravi Dadhich, CEO of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India and senior officers of the Government were among those present on the occasion.
