Uttarakhand is becoming a pharma hub under the leadership of Dhami government, pharmaceutical companies put forth their problems

Taking a big step towards making Uttarakhand the pharma hub of India, an important review meeting was held on Monday at the Food Safety and Drug Administration Headquarters, Dehradun. This meeting was called in the sequence of clear instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. The meeting was chaired by Additional Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration and State Drug Controller Tajbar Singh Jaggi.

Representatives of more than 30 drug manufacturing units of the state, managing directors, officials of the Drug Manufacturing Association and departmental officials participated in the meeting. The main objective of the meeting was to review the cases of substandard drugs that have come to the fore recently in the state, analyze the status of drug quality and discuss concrete steps that can be taken to protect industrial reputation.

The drug manufacturers present in the review meeting expressed deep concern about the drug alerts being issued by CDSCO. He said that many times drug alerts are put on the public portal without completing the investigation process, which damages both the credibility of the firm and the image of the state. As an example, Cooper Pharma’s Buprenorphine Injection was mentioned, which was declared substandard and spurious.

Later investigations found that the drug was not manufactured by a Uttarakhand firm, but was illegally manufactured in Bihar. In such cases, Uttarakhand companies are considered guilty without any fault, which sends a negative signal for both industry and investment. The companies also said that when a sample is found to be substandard, preliminary investigation and confirmation of the authenticity of the sample is mandatory under Section 18(A) of the Drugs Act. After this, under Section 25(3), the manufacturer has the right to challenge that report, but until the report and samples are not given on time, this right remains limited to papers only.

In the meeting, State Drug Controller Tajbar Singh Jaggi told all the drug manufacturing companies clearly that the government is with the industry, but there will be no compromise on the quality of medicines. He said that the image of the pharmaceutical units of Uttarakhand is very positive across the country and it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain it. He asked all the representatives to strictly follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) in their respective plants, keep records at every stage of production and ensure quality.

The drug manufacturers present in the meeting expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. Said that due to the transparent and pro-industry policies of the Dhami government, Uttarakhand is becoming the choice of investors across the country today. The companies expressed confidence that if this attitude continues, Uttarakhand can become the largest pharma cluster in India in the coming years.

It was decided in the review meeting that no leniency will be shown in legal action against those who are spoiling the reputation of the state by making substandard medicines. Such cases are being investigated by the department and strict action will be taken by registering an FIR if found guilty.

State Health Secretary and Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that it is our firm goal that Uttarakhand emerges as a pharma hub in the coming years. In this direction, we are not only working on the expansion of existing drug manufacturing units, but also preparing new investments, convenient policies for industries and high quality control mechanisms.

Rajesh Kumar informed that currently about 285 pharma units are active in Uttarakhand, out of which 242 units are certified by WHO. They produce about 20% of the total medicines produced in the country and these pharma companies are also exporting significant quantities to the country and abroad. He further said that recently a high-tech laboratory established in collaboration with the state government and the central government was inaugurated in Dehradun, in which arrangements have been made for testing medical equipment and cosmetic samples along with medicines.

This laboratory will also soon receive NABL accreditation, which will make the reports here an acceptable standard at the national and international level. Dr. Rajesh Kumar clarified that action against substandard medicines will continue under the zero tolerance policy in the state.

Currently, medicines are being supplied to more than 15 states of India and 20+ countries from the pharmaceutical units of Uttarakhand. Pharma companies located in the state are working in accordance with WHO-GMP, ISO and other international standards. The focus of the Dhami government is not only on promoting business but also on ensuring that the medicines here meet the world-class quality standards.