Unimpressed by the negligence shown to the pharma sector, especially to the allopathic medicine industry in Kerala’s new health policy, the state Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KPMA) has wanted the government to re-work on the policy by adding welfare measures suggested by the association.

While feedback to the policy has started coming from the stakeholders of the pharma sector including allopathic and Ayush, many of the pharma leaders converge to blame that the new health policy does not give attention to the recommendations of the drug manufacturers.

Regarding the drug policy of the state, the draft gives no information but deals with some social determinants of health and budget allocations. It also does not dwell anything on the state medical corporation’s brain child, Karunya Community Pharmacies which was applauded by the public for providing cheaper and effective medicines through its outlets attached to the government hospitals. Further, the policy does not explain the various schemes envisaged for procuring medicines for government requirements and their free distribution through government hospitals. According to reports, the people of Kerala consume 10 per cent of the total medicines sold in the country, but the health policy-2013 provides no idea about the procurement, supply, consumption and price variations of the drugs supplied by the government, comment people from trade and manufacturing sectors.

“The policy deals with several aspects of the health area, but does not cover any recommendation that can actually be good for the pharma sector as a whole. It lacks focus on drugs policies and the drug manufacturing sector and  has to be re-worked immediately,” commented K P Purushothaman, president of KPMA.

In the introduction of the draft, it is said that the policy enjoys significance at a time when the state is facing the emergence and re-emergence of some of the communicable diseases along with problems resulting from the epidemiological and demographic transition. When the state was in need of effective and affordable medicines during the break out of infectious diseases, the manufacturing industry in Kerala contributed services by supplying adequate quantity of medicines. But, the government’s health policy does not deal with any measure for boosting the manufacturing sector, both Ayurveda and allopathy. The manufacturers are unhappy over the way government drafted its policies and schemes for the health sector, said he.

Some key recommendations put forth by KPMA include preparing a scheme for manufacturing the medicines listed in the national list of essential medicines (NLEM) required by the state by using the facilities of the SME sector which is in a poor state and needs support. Contract manufacturing system should be considered. Though it has included some measures for Ayurveda sector, the policy does not specify any concrete measure for the development of the allopathic sector.

Because of the strict vigil being kept by the enforcement agency, Kerala has no menace of spurious drugs or drug related problems. The policy does not find any place to highlight the activities of the drug control department and its new initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) has given a representation to the government of Kerala urging it to consider positive steps for the growth and promotion of Ayush medicines. They are organising an agitation before the government secretariat on May 31 alleging that the health policy 2013 does not give due importance to Ayurveda sector.