The proposal to create a new department of pharmaceuticals to bring the entire pharma-related activities under one roof has also got stuck up in the tussle between the chemical and health ministries, as a fall-out of the hiccup developed on the pharma policy between the both.
The scheduled meeting of the Committee of Secretaries, formed by the Cabinet Secretariat to chalk out the steps to form the new department, could not be held on April 30 and has been postponed indefinitely, it is learnt. The Group of Ministers (GoM) examining the national pharmaceutical policy also did not touch upon the topic in its last meeting which ended inconclusively following objection by the health ministry to some key proposals.
The move to carve the new department to coordinate different activities on the pharma sector had got the support of the chemicals ministry while the health ministry did not welcome the proposal which may finally eat into its rights to control the quality of drugs, it is learnt. Now any further step in this regard would be possible only after both the secretaries first settle the differences in the pharma policy as directed by the GoM, sources said.
The proposed new department was to function under the chemicals ministry. Though decision on bringing price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the new department was yet pending, there was the move to bring in the DCGI's office under it, much to the displeasure of the health ministry.
The proposal, mooted first by CPM MP Dr Sujan Chakraborty and later cleared by the Cabinet secretariat, was to bring together under one head all matters dealing with different aspects of pharmaceutical industry which are now looked after by different ministries. While the pharma industry and manufacturing were governed by the chemicals department, the control over quality of medicines was with the health ministry under which the CDSCO works.
The ministry of environment and forests covers areas of trials on animals, whereas currently the ministry of science and technology decides which drug research project of a company is to be funded. The WTO-related issues in pharmaceuticals are handled by the department of commerce, while negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organisation are with the department of industrial policy and promotion in the commerce and industry ministry.
The move for new department was supported by different quarters as the pharma was emerging as a sunshine sector and hence a stand-alone department would be good to tap the rising potential in the area.