The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) will soon take a decision on making Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) compulsory for the pharma companies in the country.  In this regard, the department will hold a meeting on July 29 to look into the details on how this code was followed in last six months and if the code is needed any modification.
“Our minister is convening a review meeting on 29th (of this month) to get the view of the industry and to find out how this has performed during last six months, as this is a voluntary code.  Based on the feedback we will be able to take a decision on the issue. A decision on the issue is likely to be taken after 29th July,” said Dr V K Subburaj, secretary, DoP.

He was delivering his keynote address at a National Conference on 'Pharma Exports: API Challenges' under the aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on July 24.

On bulk drug and API policy, the secretary said that in another two months, the government is likely to come up with a policy framework as it is a complex issue and involves consultations with the stakeholders. “Necessary consultations have already taken place with the concerned stakeholders in the government as well as industry and only approval related formalities remain to be fulfilled before the final documents relating to these two policies are put in public domain”, said the secretary.

He said that the ministry is about to revive the Jan Aushadhi scheme by reframing its concept.  "So far we have opened about 100 stores and there were many ups and down. The states had to close the store due to drug distribution policy change. Also government decided to supply generic drugs in the hospitals. So we’re reworking on the concept of the scheme as we want to open some 500 stores across the states. They will be distributing 509 medicines of different therapeutic categories. Shortly we’ll come up with the policy,” said the secretary.

Meanwhile, Dr. Subburaj also announced that the government would shortly put in place Pharma Manufacturing Technology Upgradation Fund worth Rs.500 crore on lines of TUFS in textile industry to enable domestic pharma companies, especially the SME segment, to make quality drugs by availing of fiscal assistance from the proposed fund.

The fund will be for SMEs and disbursed through some bank, likely SIDBI.  The proposal has been sent to the finance ministry and the department is waiting for the approval while it is likely to be a reality in a month's time. The terms and the conditions for disbursing the loan will come along scheme.

Elaborating on the proposed fund, the secretary explained its necessity by stating that only 14-15 per cent of domestic pharma manufacturers out of close to 10,000 pharma manufacturers are making quality drugs of world standards due to non availability of finances.