The two serious challenges that would be created by the multinational pharmaceutical companies in the post WTO regime would be high prices medicines and survival of generic companies. As the country is now on the threshold of TRIPS era, the domestic industry should be fully vigilant and prepared to face these threats, said Bhuddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister, West Bengal.

The Chief Minister, while inaugurating the 56th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress at the Science City in Kolkata warned that unless the Central Government take enough precautions to eliminate the MNC threats while finalizing the product patent law, the industry and the public healthcare system could be at stake.

The Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC), which came back to Kolkata after a long gap of 16 years, was opened here today. All the leading domestic pharmaceutical companies including Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila, Lupin and East India Pharma are participating in the Congress.

The Pharma Expo 2004, an exhibition of modern pharma equipments, machineries, chemicals and technical services are made open to the general public along with the Congress. The Expo, organized by FICCI, was inaugurated by the West Bengal sports and transport minister, Subash Chakraborty.

Addressing the Congress, Dr Sujan Chakraborty, chairman, 56th IPC, said that the theme of the Congress, 'pharmacists in healthcare system,' aptly indicates the presence, importance and contribution of the pharmacist in the country's healthcare sector.

In the fast changing internal and external scenario, it is necessary to deliberate on issues like drug regulation, industrial infrastructure, patent, compulsory licensing, pharmacy education, training and distribution and most importantly, availability of drugs at reasonable price to more people etc.

Similarly, the research and development in pharmaceutical sector, pharmacy practices for further advancement of the professionals in the area are also having paramount importance. He added that Indian pharma industry as well as the regional sector in West Bengal is ready to prosper the post-WTO regime to reach quality medicine at reasonable prices to the public.

Dr Tulsi Chakraborty, secretary, organizing committee, said that since independence, the profession of pharmacy has evolved itself as one of the important component of the healthcare system and today, the Indian pharma sector, a highly scientific and knowledge- based one, is a net foreign exchange earner, and the country has become a power house in the pharma world.

On day two, there will be a regional business meet on pharma and healthcare along with the congress which will be attended by Nirupam Sen, minister of commerce and industry, West Bengal, and the meet would have participants from SAARC countries.

Dr Anbumoni Ramdoss, union health minister, and Dr Suryakant Misra, minister of health West Bengal will be presented during the valedictory session of the congress on the last day.