Though the UPA government began its second term in the office with much hype by announcing action-packed 100-day plans for all ministries, nothing concrete has come out at least in the case of health and chemicals ministries, which are related to the pharma industry directly.
Even as the government completed more than 100 days in the office, both the ministries could not deliver anything much to reckon with so far, if an analysis of the performance is taken. Nothing has moved ahead with regard to most of the tall claims made by the concerned ministers concerning the departments of pharma and health so far.
Formation of the Central Drug Authority and the bill in this regard are not just stuck up but have been pushed back further under the new minister, if reports are any indication.. Though the health minister also vowed for the revival of the three crucial public sector vaccine manufacturing units, little progress could be made so far in resuming the production in either of the units. Efforts have been launched and some amount of money has been released only for the CRI, Kasauli so far. So goes many other tantalizing schemes announced by the minister.
Likewise, the fate of the national pharmaceutical policy, which has been pending since 2002, is also in limbo, though the chemicals ministry had put it as priority in the 100-day agenda. The pharma department has suggested continuation of the Group of Ministers to decide on the policy and submitted the recommendation but the Cabinet is yet to announce the formation of the new GoM.
Likewise, the much-hyped Jan Aushadi programme of setting up generic stores across the country with a view to ensure affordable medicines, is yet to pick up momentum under the new regime, though it was also part of the priority programme. Similarly, the revival of the IDPL which was also included in the agenda also could not materialize as no decision yet on the new GoM was taken.
However, the cabinet has given the final approval for the new NIPERs though it came after 100 days after the strengthening of the same was part of the agenda. Also, the pharma department could ensure that more small scale units would take benefit through the Credit linked capital subsidy scheme.