Probably for the first time in the history of the pharma industry, all the pharma industry associations in the country are coming together on a common platform on the initiatives of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to thrash out common issues that are confronting the industry. According to informed sources, CII will hold a meeting of all the pharma associations in the country on June 4 in Mumbai in this regard.

The meeting takes place in the backdrop of a growing feeling among the pharma units that due to the fragmented nature of the pharma industry associations, the industry has been on receiving end on several issues. Different organizations have been working on cross purposes due to lack of coordination between the pharma associations. The new CII initiative is expected to unite all the associations and work unitedly for the betterment of the industry.

Apart from the CII, representatives from all major pharma industry associations including OPPI, IPA, IDMA, CIPI, BDMA, etc will be participating in the meeting. Major issues that are expected to come up for discussion in the meeting included pharma policy, counterfeit drugs, labour issues, etc which are common issues to all the associations.

CII sources said that the significance of the first such meeting on June 4 is that this will provide a common platform for all associations to come together in the interests of the industry. So far, individual associations have been taking up issues with the government separately. There was lack of unity among the associations even though there are several issues which are common to all the associations.

CII sources said that though there are no financial matters in the agenda for the first meeting on June 4, the industry is keeping the next budget in mind. If something substantial comes out in the first meeting, the representatives of the associations will be meeting senior officials and the ministers with a industry issue of demands of all the associations, sources said.