The Union Chemicals Ministry has opposed the proposal to create a new exclusive ministry for pharmaceuticals to deal with all related issues in the sector under one roof, saying that it was not needed at present.
The Chemicals ministry sources said that it had already sent its comments on the note prepared by the Cabinet secretariat, based on a proposal sent by CPM Parliamentarian Sujan Chakraborty. The ministry felt that a separate ministry for pharmaceuticals was not necessary now, as the current structure was sufficient enough to regulate and monitor the sector.
The comments from other departments like health and family welfare were also sought on the proposal and it is viewed that the health ministry may also not support the move as it would cut into its power too.
Apart, the industry is not very keen on setting up a new separate department. At present the industry enjoys better bargaining power and flexibility, as it is not fully dependent on one ministry alone. ``Even if one of departments is not very helping, we have now the choice to take the help of the other at least in some matters. If a new separate department exclusively for pharma comes up, everything will be decided by the whims and fancies of those ruling it,'' said an industry leader.
It may be noted that the lack of co-ordination between different departments always comes in handy for the industry. It becomes difficult for the government to negotiate things, including prices, as regulatory agencies are controlled by different departments.
The regulatory agency to control the prices -NPPA-is under the chemicals ministry, while the CDSCO under the health department looks after the drug approvals. Strong coordination between both the agencies is good for controlling the prices, and this has prompted the Cabinet secretariat to prepare the note and seek views from different departments.
The pricing regulator is an autonomous body attached to the chemicals ministry and administers the drug price control order which is an administrative order issued under the Essential Commodities Act. Hence, the Chemicals department is not very much interested to see another separate agency taking away some of the currently enjoyed power.
While the health ministry takes care of quality regulation and marketing approvals using the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the department of science and technology administers a fund meant to support promising research projects by the industry. Besides, there is a separate department for biotechnology. And recently, a new department has been formed for health research with the Indian Council of Medical Research as its main arm.