Notwithstanding the efforts from the Union Chemicals Ministry, the new Pharmaceutical Policy is unlikely to see the light of the day in the next 5-6 months as the Policy might not get through in the coming budget session of Parliament, even though the Group of Ministers (GoM) is expected anytime from now.

The policy, considered by the Cabinet three weeks ago and referred to the GoM, cannot go to the House during the next session, if the current status on the matter is any indication.

"Once the GoM is constituted by the Prime Minister, as decided by the Cabinet earlier, there will be at least three rounds of meetings to finalise the policy. It takes time and it is not going to come out in the next five-six months,'' sources in the Chemicals Ministry said. However, a note from the Cabinet secretariat about the constitution of the GoM can come anytime from now, they added.

Meanwhile, the industry people are keeping their fingers crossed on the formation of the GoM, as they wanted to make sure that their arguments on price control and price monitoring also find way into the final draft.

It is learnt that Cabinet Ministers of Health, Chemicals and Fertilisers, Commerce and Finance will naturally find a berth in the GoM, though the PM has been entrusted with the task as his prerogative. It is also likely that MoS from the PMO, consumer affairs minister, Minister for Science and Technology could also be drafted into the GoM.

The GoM would have a look at the draft policy in their first meeting, before suggesting any modifications. So, naturally at least a couple of meetings more would take place to finalise the changes and preparing the final policy, it is pointed out. With different ministries like Chemicals, Commerce and Finance taking opposite views on the contentious issue of price control and objections likely from the Planning Commission, the policy may get further delayed.

Though the GoM is unlikely to invite the industry for further deliberations, the industry will be looking to make some representations besides lobbying through the members of the GoM close to them. Besides, the industry is also aggrieved for not getting enough time to place their views before the 14-member expert panel submitted its report and the chemicals ministry forwarded the draft to the Cabinet.