Not enthused with the current progress of the drugs and pharmaceutical research programme, the Parliamentary standing committee attached to the Ministry of Science and Technology has sought more clarity on its status and steps being taken to improve the programme.

“The Committee would like to be apprised of the concrete actions and proposals of the Department with regard to the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Research Programme. The Committee would also like to know whether the programme is still under the control of the Department of Science & Technology or has been shifted to any other Ministry/Department as proposed earlier,’’ the panel headed by Dr T Subbarami Reddy said.

What has irked the committee is the curt response from the DST that ‘appropriate actions will be taken by the department.’ Though the panel made some serious recommendations, the department could not specify the details of the actions taken, prompting the committee to ask for more clarity on the programme.

“The Committee notes with serious concern that a crucial programme such as the drugs and pharmaceutical research programme which was started in 1994-95 is still in search of a promoting department. The Committee fails to understand as to why the programme is being shifted from Department of the Science & Technology to Departments of Biotechnology (DBT), or AYUSH, Ministry of Health or CSIR. The Committee expresses its serious concern at the fact that even after so many years of being in existence, no focused approach has been adopted towards the programme,’’ the panel had noted.

“Instead of shifting from one department to another, better coordination should be evolved between the ministries and departments to achieve better results. In a country where poverty is rampant and substantial part of population suffers from critical diseases, continued support to drug research programmes is the social responsibility of the government for providing affordable drugs/medicines to the poor masses and this responsibility cannot be diluted or absolved at any stage through reduced allocations. Hence instead of decreasing allocation for the programme, a focussed approach should be adopted within the DST to ensure that the programme is able to deliver its intended results,’’ the report said.

“The Committee, therefore, recommends that drug research programmes should be focussed on the neglected diseases which are afflicting the large populace of our country with renewed vigour. The Committee in its 162nd report on the programme including the herbal medicines has comprehensively examined the various aspects and has given cogent recommendations. The Committee while reiterating its recommendations would like to stress upon the urgent need to forge effective partnerships between the various research institutions and the pharmaceutical companies engaged in the crucial field of drugs and pharmaceutical research and development, keeping in view the profound influence of R&D on the prospects and opportunities for the growth of the Indian drug industry and promotion of industry-institutional collaboration on research in the drugs sector,’’ it said.

Notwithstanding all these recommendations, the panel was virtually kept in the dark about the follow-up and action taken on them. This has now forced the committee to seek more clarity on the status of the programme, it is learnt.