Drug body chief slams reports

The Indian pharma industry is being targeted by companies abroad that used to manufacture drugs three decades back, a top official of industry body BDMA said here on Tuesday.

Bulk drug manufacturers association (India) president Jayant Tagore said, “Most reports critical of the Indian pharma units that have come in seem to have a vested interest in them.”

Reports from abroad said the pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters (PMCs) in Hyderabad is lacking proper systems to treat their waste, leading to the “emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.” “We have commissioned Professor S. Dayanada to find out the veracity of those claims,” Tagore told the media.

He said, “It seems that some of the reports have been driven by economics. Pharma firms are not the sole reason for drugresistant bacteria. There are other reasons and it’s a global phenomenon, not tied to a single city.”

“India is a major player in generics. It has brought down the costs of drugs and is hurting firms abroad. Hyderabad and Vizag are the major API manufacturing hubs. So, it is being targeted.”

It seems that some of the reports have been driven by economics. Pharma firms are not the sole reason for drug-resistant bacteria. There are other reasons and it’s a global phenomenon, not tied to a single city — JAYANT TAGORE President, Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association