Post diclofenac ban, Indian companies have come out with at least 10 brands of its safe alternative, the non-steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID) drug meloxicam, for veterinary use. The price for meloxicam formulations are higher than the diclofenac medicines and the companies are reluctant to bring down the cost of meloxicam to make it an easier choice for the farmer, it is learnt.

While the lack of market and subsequent sales are the major reasons for the higher price for meloxicam, bird conservation activists cite Nepal as an example where the manufacturer have agreed to supply the alternative formulation at the same price. "Medivet, Nepal's largest veterinary manufacturing company states that the raw material and ingredient cost for both diclofenac and meloxicam remain the same. They find no reason to charge meloxicam more than the conventional drug", they point out.

The 10 brands currently available in the Indian market are Zobid - M (Sarabhai Zydus), Zobid (Sarabhai Zydus), Qik, Qik Blous, Melonex (Intas), Melox - Vetcare, Diclovet - M (Alembic), Discovet (Indoobiocare) and Melax Vat. Among the Indian manufacturers, Intas has been into the production of meloxicam since last two years. However, the price of meloxicam was three times higher than that of its diclofenac formulations.

"The profit margins seem to be very high in the case of meloxicam formulations marketed for veterinary use in India. We would want companies to rethink their pricing strategies so as to make farmers shift to the new NSAID instead of using diclofenac meant for human use." Chris Bowden, Vulture Programme Director, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK said.

The activists are planning to approach state governments to step up the awareness programmes to speed up this shift from diclofenac to meloxicam.

Siclofenac was banned in view of the harmful effect it has on the fast declining vulture population of Asian sub-continent. It was found that the presence of diclofenac in the carcasses of livestock posed a threat to the existence of scavenging vultures.