The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which has taken the lead to provide a common platform for different pharma associations in the country to come together, may act as a frontal organization in taking up pharma related issues with the government in future. The CII may soon lead a team of pharma associations to give a representation to the government on the issue of National Pharma Policy which is being finalized by a Group of Ministers headed by Sharad Pawar, it is learnt.

The CII's overtures in this regard come after it successfully brought different pharma associations on a single platform in Mumbai on June 4 to discuss common issues that are confronting the industry. The meeting is significant as this is probably for the first time that different pharma associations are sitting together to thrash out issues confronting the industry. So far, different pharma associations have been working on cross purposes due to lack of coordination between them. The 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, IDMA, CIPI, BDMA, etc participated in the meeting. However, IPA was conspicuous by its absence. The meeting, which was preliminary in nature, discussed several common issues of the industry. They included national pharma policy, counterfeit drugs, labour issues, SME sector issues, HR issues, etc. While other issues can wait for some time, the CII will soon take up the issue of pharma policy which is being finalized by the GoM.

The general feeling among the industry associations is that since CII is a wider and respectable industry body than other associations, it can make more impact in the government due to its influence in the power that be.

CII spokesman Sasikant Misra, refusing to divulge details about the meeting, said that the meeting was successful as it brought different associations on a single platform. "The CII will come out with details of the meeting later", he said.