The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ramvilas Paswan sought co-operation from the pharmaceutical industry to bring in affordable price for drugs for common public even as the government will give full support for the industry to grow further.

Speaking as the chief guest in the 41st Annual General Meeting of Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Paswan said that the government has responsibility to provide medicine at affordable price for common people. Usually, the market price will come down if there is tough competition in the particular industry. But in pharma, this is not happening, because of various reasons including the factor that the drugs are marketed as per the prescription of doctors.

"The government has already announced incentives for pharma in R&D. We will consider whatever incentives you want in research and upgradation of manufacturing standards," he added.

The industry has more information and experience about the existence of spurious drugs and it can suggest better control methods to curb the fake medicines from the market. The government will also take initiative to curb market of sales drugs through spreading awareness among medical practitioners. It is only the pharma industry and the doctors can work effectively against fake drugs, as the common people are not aware about the difference between spurious drugs and genuine medicine, he added.

Paswan also criticised OPPI for not implementing its own decision of voluntary price reduction of more than 800 drugs announced by the organisation earlier. However, the government is extending support for the industry, including on discussions in parliament sessions. He has also called for more public-private partnership in pharmaceutical sector for industrial growth.

Ranjit Shahani, vice chairman and managing director, Novartis India, who has completed his term as the president of OPPI, said that the organisation will work closely with the government to bring in accessibility of medicines for public health and the government, with the support of the industry should provide more help for the people below poverty line in medicine affordability. More certain molecules should be exempted from Schedule X as the part of steps to introduce more number of Over the Counter (OTC) in the country.

The new president for OPPI, Ranga Iyer, managing director with Wyeth Ltd, assured that the industry would extend full support to the government for increasing public-private partnership in pharmaceutical sector. The government should revamp patent laws in light of 2 years experience to promote R&D and should allow post offices to sell simple medications for accessibility to drugs.

The organisation also announced its new office bearers in the meeting. While Ranga Iyer hold the charge of president, Dr Girish Telang, MD with Roche India, Kewal Handa, MD with Pfizer, Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, MD with Aventis, Sanofi-Aventis and Dr Hasit Joshipura, MD with GSK Pharma (I) Ltd were elected as vice presidents of the organisation for the year 2007-08.

Earlier, Prakash Mitra, Partner, McKinsey and company presented the growth prospects of Indian pharmaceutical industry. The organisation has also presented annual awards of excellence, initiated to encourage outstanding performance in pharmaceutical sector. The OPPI Marketing Excellence Award was presented to Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, for its performance in marketing of Volix in the new pharmaceutical products category.

Dr Atul Kumar of Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow was awarded with OPPI Scientist Award for performance in pharmaceutical chemistry and Associated Capsules Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, won two awards, both as raw material suppliers and packaging materials suppliers under OPPI Best Vendor Award.