The high-powered Task Force on 'Enabling the private sector to lead the growth of pharmaceutical sector', constituted by the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP), has recommended to establish cold chain facilities to enhance export capability for high end drugs requiring exact cold chain standards till the time they are exported from the country in light of stringent developed market requirements.

The Task Force, headed by secretary, DoP, has also recommended to the government to provide common infrastructure for enabling the private sector to lead the growth of pharmaceutical sector in the country. In this regard, the Task Force asked the government to establish National Biosimilar Centre and Regional Biosimilar Centeres to undertake consulting activity and consider providing common infrastructure to facilitate the growth of biosimilar industry in the country.

Besides, the Task Force also recommended to the DoP to set up
Formulation Development Centres in the country which would assist the SME pharmaceutical units for development of new formulations from patent products (small and big molecules); with a view to tap/explore the vast opportunities opening up due to off patenting of a number of molecules valued at about US$ 300 billion (traditional generics and bio-similars) in the next few years.

In yet another significant recommendation, the Task Forces asked the government to set up a mega complex for production of identified drug intermediates and raw materials. It asked the DoP to provide one-time support to revive the production of identified drug intermediates.

The Task Force was constituted by the DoP in November last year for identifying the challenges before the Indian pharmaceutical industry pertaining to various government departments and agencies; identifying ways to ensure better coordination among various government departments and industry to facilitate the industry; identifying areas of duplication, if any, among different government agencies and departments on issues relating to pharmaceutical industry including research; and for suggesting suitable changes in the administrative arrangements or administrative mandate of government agencies and departments to enable better and coordinated facilitation and support to the industry.

Other terms of reference of the Task Force included exploring the possibility of having a single window clearance type of facilitation for the industry for the required regulatory approvals; working out the mechanism for a regular and institutionalised forum for government industry partnership where the industry issues can be redressed periodically and in a time bound manner; and exploring the possibility of linking the Indian pharmaceutical industry with various educational and research institutions in the government sector like NIPERs, research institutes under department of health research, department of biotechnology, department of science and technology and others.