Upset over the recent statement of the Phillipines Department of Trade and Industry that it is planning to abandon drug imports from India, which was reported in media, the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (PHARMEXCIL) has appealed to the Indian Ambassador in Manila to urgently intervene and coordinate with trade and health authorities there to convince them about the Indian pharma capabilities and quality standards.

In order to dispel the doubts raised in a recent media report about the Phillipines government move, the Council has also urged the Ambassador and the Indian commerce secretary to invite a high power health and trade delegation from Phillipines to India for assessing the real pharma situation here.

In an urgent communication to the Indian Ambassador in Manila, the Pharmexcil chairman D B Modi has appealed that as it is learnt that the Phillipines Department of Trade and Industry is planning to stop drug imports from India and work with local pharmaceutical Industry and multinational corporates instead, a critical intervention is essential to turn the negative situation into a positive one which will pave the way for increasing Indian exports and at the same time earn a good will as a dependable source of supply of quality medicines at affordable prices.

The Council has expressed that "the Indian drug industry has been growing from strength to strength and as of today; its exports have touched Rs 13,000 crores in 2003-'04. A good number of manufacturing units are having WHO- GMP certificates and are also registered with US FDA, MCA (UK), TGA - Australia and in European countries as approved suppliers. Indian products have been registered with respective health authorities in the Middle East Africa and South America, etc. If the quality of products is not of international standard, the products could not have been registered in the developed countries. The very fact that products are of good quality and are competitively priced, we have been able to make way in the international arena," the letter added.

It is to be noted in this context that a delegation from the Phillipines had visited India and had detailed discussions with the Indian units by visiting a good number of them. Accordingly, the units have also been registered with the health authorities of the Phillipines.