With a vision to find a place for the south Indian pharma market in the world pharmaceutical map, the pharmaceutical and neutraceutical manufacturers' associations covering six states in south India have come together to support the Pharmac South-2014, the two-day exhibition of pharma company profiles and products, in a resounding manner.

Manufacturers' associations from Telengana, Andhra, Pondicherry, Karnataka,  Kerala and Tamil Nadu have pledged their support to the mega event, which is slated for the 18th and 19th of July this year, at Chennai trade centre. The theme of the expo is ‘Destination for Innovative and Reliable Healthcare Products’.

Though the expo is the fifth one in series and the first one in Tamil Nadu, a joint meeting of all the associations has decided to make it a common event of all pharmaceutical associations covering south Indian states, said M Rajaratinam, chairman of TN IDMA, the major organiser of the programme.

Andhra Pradesh drug manufacturers association (APDMA), bulk drug manufacturers association (BDMA), Karnataka drug manufacturers association (KDMA), Pondicherry drug manufacturers association, Kerala pharmaceutical manufacturers association (KPMA) and Tamil Nadu pharmaceutical manufacturers association (TNPMA) are the major associations from the allopathic side who have agreed to support the expo.

Associations representing Indian systems of medicines such as Tamil Nadu Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani Drug Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) and Ayurveda medicine manufacturers organisation of India (AMMOI) have also accepted the requests and those from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are awaited. This event will be the first of its kind in the country with participation from all systems of medicine.  In addition, this event is hugely supported by Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) from the ministry of commerce.

“The preparations for the event are going on well. To attract all the stakeholders in the industry, we are organising three panel discussions in the exhibition days, which will benefit the visitors. One seminar is organised by Pharmexcil on the subject, “Export opportunities to new and unexplored markets’. TN IDMA is organising one discussion on,’ Building brands to enhance your market share”. The third one will be on “New molecules in neutraceuticals’. We are expecting regulatory officials from three foreign countries and senior level brand managers from pharma MNCs to attend the panel discussions. The expo will create opportunities for partnerships, memorandum of understanding and other deliberations,” said Rajaratinam.

Pharmac south is organised by Orbit Exhibitions, Mumbai in collaboration with Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) Tamil Nadu chapter. The organisers expect more than 3000 visitors from India and abroad.