Notwithstanding the recommendations by the Planning Commission during the mid-term review, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has failed to take over the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The lethargy on the part of the DoP has resulted in letting the ambitious programme to remain dull. The scheme has been continuously loosing the steam and sheen over the years. The attitude of the Department has come in for sharp criticism from the Parliamentary Panel attached to the Ministry of Chemicals also recently.

“The Committee also recommended that the Department should make concerted effort towards getting allocation for programme from the next financial year and implement the same to achieve the desired goals. The Department’s reply regarding transfer of the DPRP is also regrettable. The Committee reiterate that the Department of Pharmaceuticals should hasten its efforts regarding transfer of the programme,” an action taken report by the panel said.

In a very brief reply to the panel, the DoP had said that the matter was 'being examined in consultation with the DST,' drawing flak from the committee.

Meanwhile, the DST sources said that it was taking steps to rejuvenate the scheme. “An inter-departmental consultations among the DST, Department of Biotechnology, and DSIR of the Ministry of Science & Technology will be organized to bring more coordination and focused approach in pharmaceuticals research oriented Programmes implemented by these Departments, so that every Department's programme caters to the different needs of the end users (institutes/academia/industry) or regulated in such a manner that there is no overlapping schemes/loan/grants of the various departments. Depending on the outcome of these consultations, the DPRP will be strengthened further to meet the larger interest of the country,” an official said.

The programme was launched in 1994-95 for promoting Industry-Institutional Collaboration in R&D in drugs and pharmaceuticals sector. The programme aims at enhancing capabilities of institutions and the Indian drugs and pharma industry towards development of new drugs in all systems of medicine.