With the creation of a separate department for pharmaceuticals, the sector that is currently administered by different ministries is all set to get a focused attention to begin with and it is likely to evolve gradually into a fully independent administrative department with enough financial freedom.

"The biggest difference now is that it will have a single window for all the problems related to the industry and all files will be coming to one desk for clearance and full-time staff and personnel dedicated for the sole purpose of maintaining the department,'' new secretary to the department Ashok Kumar told Pharmabiz, after taking over the charge.

The entire works and responsibilities relating to the pharmaceutical sector earlier handled by the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Department, apart from pharmaceutical research and education have been handed over to the new department at present. Part of the staff from the existing department also would be transferred and rest of the required manpower and infrastructure would be put in place soon, he said.

Ashok Kumar said that he was trying to learn things as it is a new department and things would be put in place as fast as possible. He has been instrumental in turning National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), as its chairman, into a highly active agency to bridle the prices of drugs in the market. His selection is also hailed as a good move as he knew about the industry closely and he has nearly two years still left in the office.

The new secretary now can spare full time for the matters. Earlier, the Chemicals secretary had to divide his time between different segments from chemicals to pharma to petrochemicals, industry observers feel. Welcoming the new move, they hoped that pharmaceutical industry would get a focused treatment to begin with and slowly other functions including the DCGI office would be brought under the purview of the new department. As of now, the CDSCO, Pharmacy Council of India and such matters would continue with Health Ministry, sources said. The full financial powers are also expected to come in time for the new department.

A spokesman from the Pharmexcil clarified that it would continue under the Commerce Ministry but at the same time it was having several significant works along with the Chemicals Department. Thus, it would now closely interact with new department.

Welcoming the move, SME Pharma Industries Confederation (SPIC) said the creation of the department would give a great impetus to the pharma sector in a focused way. "We are happy it was finally created. We are sure that industry in general and small and medium sector in particular will get more time from the authorities as the new secretary can devote full time for the purposes,'' SPIC secretary general Jagdeep Singh said after meeting the new secretary along SPIC vice-chairman Lalit Kumar Jain. The confederation has been pressing for early creation of an independent department with enough financial powers for pharma sector.

As per the notification by the government, the new department will have NPPA under its control apart from the pharma PSUs. It will be responsible for drugs and pharmaceuticals, excluding those specially allotted to other departments.