HC deplores Chinese dependency for pharma ingredients

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has denounced India’s dependency solely on China for basic ingredients required for making medicines and observed, “dependency handicaps us in responding effectively to security and other breaches by China.”

Wondering what would become of a nation that leaves supply of its essential lifesaving medicines to the mercy of its competing neighbour, Justice N Kirubakaran said, “India has emerged as a pioneer in pharmaceuticals. Yet, for the basic ingredients of medicine making, it is heavily dependent on imports from China. This dependency handicaps us. It also makes our patients vulnerable if tensions escalate between the two countries,” he said.

Justice Kirubakaran was passing orders on a couple of writ petitions moved by Chennai-based Vinkem Labs, manufacturers of medicines for treating cancer, to give preferential allotment in all public procurements for medicines manufactured with indigenously produced Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

Accounting for the petitioner’s complaint about lack of government support in carrying out generic research, Justice Kirubakaran also directed the constitution of a committee comprising joint secretary-level officers from the Union Ministries of Pharmaceuticals and Finance in order to facilitate all necessary requirements, including financial needs, of the petitioner firm in carrying out its research on cancer cure. He also pointed out in his order as to how cheap imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), primarily from China, had turned India from being a pioneer in Generics and pharmacy to the World to a mere formulations’ hub.

“Our country that had once built 99.7% self-reliance in APIs went on to import over 90% of its API requirements from China. The economic advantage of importing APIs has led India to lose its scientific edge and self-reliance in APIs,” the judge said.

Also, holding that the importance of protecting self-reliance in making of cancer drugs cannot be overstated with the raging virus endemic in our neighbouring nation on whom we depend, Justice Kirubakaran said, “Our country is not investing much on research and researchers are not encouraged.”

India has emerged as a pioneer in pharmaceuticals. Yet, for the basic ingredients of medicine making, it is heavily dependent on imports from China. This dependency handicaps us

— Justice N Kirubakaran