The Indian government will develop a policy to encourage domestic manufacture of basic chemicals, intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Past pharmaceutical production included manufacture of these products, particularly complex intermediates and APIs. But due to changes in policy and factors such as poor infrastructure and a lack of incentive for R&D, their manufacture has become more expensive than importing them from China, Israel or other countries. Many of the Chinese intermediates and APIs are used to produce drugs including antibiotics, and hypertension, HIV and tuberculosis therapies. The shift to domestic production is intended to strengthen the API industry, reduce dependence on China and gain control of the quality of drug ingredients. The Prime Minister’s Office has requested that the Department of Pharmaceuticals propose a policy in the next three months. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has in turn requested recommendations for strengthening the industry from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Source: livemint.com