Karnataka pharmaceutical industry is totally disappointed due to the delay in implementation of the Pharma Policy 2002. The policy is being held up for nine months following public interest litigation in Karnataka High Court, which cited that the policy had failed to bring various essential drugs into the ambit of price control.

Sources from the pharma industry told Pharmabiz.com that the issue of inclusion of various essential drugs into the ambit of price control was already taken care of in the New Pharma Policy 2002 where the government had indicted that it would look into the issue of abnormal price hike for essential and life saving drugs. "The contention that the New Pharmaceutical Policy 2002 should not be enforced as it would take away the essential and life saving drugs out of the limit of drug price Control Order (DPCO) did not mean anything," pointed out the sources.

According Jatish N Seth, secretary, Karnataka Drug Manufacturers Association (KDPMA), the call to prepare a list of the essential and life saving drugs is an acceptable point but there was no need to delay the issue for nine months.

However, the industry in the State to a large extent has lauded the government of India's Pharma Policy 2002 efforts with regard to issues like the reduction of the span of drug price control, reorientation of the pricing system, reduction of barriers in trade strengthening of the indigenous capability for cost-effective quality production.