As the exercise to form the new government gets underway after the election results, officials in the Health Ministry and the Department of Pharmaceuticals are once again getting ready with their pending policy files and notes to brief the new ministers who take charge of these offices.
Both the departments have already submitted to the cabinet secretariat the important and urgent files demanding immediate action by the new government. The departments have forwarded detailed files on the pending issues including the pharma policy and revival of some public sector drug manufacturing units, sources said.
"It will all depend on who will be in charge now. If the same ministers continue under the same regime, things will be easier. Otherwise, things have to begin afresh as per the priorities and policies of the new government," a senior official commented. However, he said the departments are ready with the files, having revived them from the racks.
As the new government has not much time left to present the regular budget, the cabinet secretariat had called in all files in advance along with proposals and suggestions from the industry segments, through the respective ministries.
Sources said the pharmaceutical department has already submitted files relating to the pharmaceutical policy, revival of IDPL, PTUF scheme, strengthening of NIPERs, Jan Aushadi stores project and programmes to improve the infrastructure in the segment, among other things. The Health Ministry on its part has pushed a number of measures including the reviving of the three public sector vaccine manufacturing units.
The pending bills like CDA formation and registration of clinical establishments were also forwarded. The senior officials from the respective departments will now brief the new ministers about the progress made so far, figures and facts, and new programmes to be undertaken immediately.
Meanwhile, the departments also had taken suggestions from the industry associations on their expectations from the new government and the proposals to be included in the forthcoming budget.