BEIJING: Import of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from China to produce essential medicines has gone up to 65.2 per cent of the total import and the government is encouraging domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence on it. In 2015-16, India imported APIs worth Rs 13,853.20 crore, 65.29 per cent of the total import, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers KVP Ramachandra said in Rajya Sabha. In 2014-15, the corresponding figures stood at Rs 12,757.96 crore and 64.33 per cent as against Rs 12,061.53 crore and 63.51 per cent in 2013-14.
Over last three years, India has imported bulk drugs and APIs worth totalling nearly Rs 38,672.69 crore from China out of the total pie of Rs 60,041.25 crore between 2013-14 to 2015-16. “The country is dependent on import of bulk drugs and active pharmaceuticals ingredients for producing certain essential medicines,” the minister said.
APIs are chemicals in drug products that make medications work. “As India is a signatory to the WTO and TRIPS agreement, the import restriction has been removed and imports made on economic considerations have slowly resulted in the present dependence,” he added. The government has formulated policies to reduce dependence over the imports. “In this direction, the government had on January 29, 2016 notified the withdrawal of exemption of Customs duties which were earlier given to certain categories of drugs and bulk drugs to provide a boost to domestic manufacturers,” Ramachandra said.
