After formation of the new government at the Centre, pharmaceutical industry was expecting some initiatives from the new Union minister for chemicals & fertilizers on various pending issues. Although it was known that M.K. Azhagiri, the new minister, neither has any previous experience in the Central government nor much knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector, the hope was that officials in the Department of Pharmaceuticals would adequately brief him to take decisions. Nothing like that has happened even after 100 days in the office. None of the pending policy files has been opened. First and foremost in the ministry's agenda should have been the finalization of the long delayed new pharmaceutical policy pending for last seven years. It is a blemish on UPA government that it could not decide on the policy matter after seven years of working on that and even after constituting a Group of Ministers for the purpose. The GoM headed by Sharad Pawar was to finalize the policy during the last term of the UPA government. But, no serious work was done by him with so many senior ministers in the Group. The need for deciding a new pharmaceutical policy is extremely urgent. The last policy was framed in 1994 on the basis of the disease profile and the socio economic conditions existed in the country at that time. During the last 15 years, disease profile of the country has vastly changed. Consumption pattern of medicines has changed. Life style diseases have overtaken infectious diseases in causing death and disabilities of the people. Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of half of the presently price controlled drugs. Several drugs have become outdated and at the same time hundreds of new drugs have been approved for marketing in the country. And the prescription patterns of medical practitioners have changed. The chemicals ministry and the Union cabinet cannot afford to ignore these hard realities anymore. India is no more like a backward country of the African continent. It has an image of a progressive nation among the developing world. An outdated pharmaceutical policy is a shame for the country. Now, look at the huge dues the ministry has to collect from various pharma companies for overcharging the consumers during last 15 years. Over Rs 2000 crore are yet to be collected from 471 pharmaceutical companies for overcharging price controlled drugs. NPPA had sent notices in 660 cases to these companies. But, it could recover about Rs 164 crore so far from the defaulters, as the rest of the amount as pending because of litigations in various courts. Formation of a Central Drug Authority for streamlining the drug control administration is another major reform that remained unimplemented during the last term of the UPA government. It is true that this is a matter falling under the jurisdiction of the Union health ministry. But, a lot of coordination is required between the chemicals and health ministries today. These and many other policy matters need urgent ministerial intervention to take this critical industry forward. Now, if the new minister in charge is not acting for whatever reason the Prime minister's office has to act. And there should be no more delay in this matter.