The Department of Science and Technology (DST), which had come out with funding schemes for veterinary R&D as part of its Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP) a year ago, is yet to receive any worthwhile proposals from Indian veterinary drug manufacturing sector. The dearth of interest shown by the industry to come out with proposals for industry-institutional collaborative research has dampened the spirit of the department to go ahead with the implementation of expert recommendations for the setting up of a National Institute of Veterinary Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology meant to coordinate the R&D activities pertaining to veterinary pharmaceuticals.

According to DST sources, there are about 1500 veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country. While most of them are in the SSI sector, others are veterinary divisions of large Indian and multinational pharmaceutical companies. Most of these firms either import drugs for marketing or manufacture through imported technology but do not have research divisions for development of drugs. The DST decision to include veterinary drug research stemmed from the realization that most of the Indian companies have limited resources at their disposal and are not in a position to meet the international standards immediately.

Availability of spurious and sub-standard veterinary drugs, lack of proper quality control regulations, increasing instances of drug-induced diseases and development of drug-resistant strains of organisms are all major issues that call for immediate progress in veterinary drug research programme.

A DST sponsored workshop organized last year to give a fresh impetus to veterinary drug development in India had called for the establishment of an Institute under the government sector on the lines of Central Drug Research Institute. It had also recommended the creation of an apex body for developing legislative protocols and guidelines for good manufacturing practices for implementation by various agencies involved in veterinary drug development. Setting up of a National Quality Control Laboratory for evaluation of different medicinal products was also suggested. DST officials feel that there is no point in establishing all such facilities unless the industry, predominantly, the private sector, takes some interest in veterinary R&D.

With India having about 837.3 million livestock, there is an enormous scope for veterinary pharmaceutical industry to cater to the needs of this huge population.