Uncertainty still continued on the date of the much-awaited second meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the proposed National Pharmaceutical Policy, notwithstanding the persistent efforts by the Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry for an early decision on the policy.

Though Chemicals Minister Ramvilas Paswan had written to Agriculture and Consumers Affairs Minister Sharad Pawar, who is heading the 7-member GoM, there was no reply so far, sources said. Besides, the efforts by new secretary of the Chemicals ministry Arun Ramanathan to get an appointment with the GoM chief for a brief were also yet to be materialised.

When contacted, officials in the Chemicals and the Health Ministries repeatedly said that no date has yet been fixed and nothing was certain on the front. The industry circles also remained clueless, but continued with their attempts to meet the members of the GoM in a bid to take their views across.

"The Chemicals Minister has written as he is keen on an early decision on the matter but a reply is yet to come. Similarly, senior officials of the Ministry were also waiting for time to meet Pawar," an official disclosed.

Indications are that the meeting is not likely to take place in August too as the Parliament session is scheduled for the end of the month. But, it is also possible that the meeting could take place anytime with a short notice, depending on the availability of the members of the panel.

The prevailing uncertainty also means further and inordinate delay on the announcement of the policy, originally scheduled to be announced in 2006. The first meeting of the panel was held on April 10, after the policy was referred to the GoM in January. A couple of meetings more will definitely mean that the policy is not likely to come out this year also.

Meanwhile, the Chemicals Minister wants the GoM to round off the discussions and finalise the policy with the second meeting, but it seems highly unlikely. Because, after the first meeting, Pawar had announced that the panel would give time to the industry and other concerned groups to convey their views on the issue of price control.

The first meeting had just a preliminary look at the draft prepared by the Chemicals Ministry and the presentation of the then secretary of the Chemicals Ministry Satwant Reddy was also not complete. The second meeting is expected to continue with the presentation besides deciding on inviting the industry representatives for presentations, either individually or jointly.

With industry associations not very keen to see the finalisation of the policy, which would bring more disturbing price control mechanism cutting into the profits of the pharmaceutical companies, only the Chemicals Ministry is left on the other side to put pressure on the GoM to hold its meeting at the earliest and bring the policy to the light.