Local players lobby for ban on Indian medicine imports
While Islamabad, after its decision of awarding most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, is trying to finalise the negative list, Pakistani pharmaceutical companies have expedited their efforts to convince the government for banning imports of finished medicines from India.
In its scheduled special committee meeting to be held in Karachi on November 23, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (PPMA) will give a detailed presentation and discuss the industry’s concerns and reservations about open trade with India, PPMA Chairman Muhammad Asad informed The Express Tribune.
A delegation of PPMA has already met with the Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Islamabad on Thursday, Asad said, adding that the latter had assured the government will protect the industry while finalising the negative list. The commerce ministry is likely to finalise the negative list by February next year, he added. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has formed sector-specific committees, headed by Secretary Commerce Zafar Mahmood to give thoughtful consideration to the reservations of local industries before finalising the negative list.
PPMA Vice Chairman Tariq Ikram will represent the association, while the secretary TDAP will chair the meeting, Asad said. After listening to the concerns of PPMA, he added, the committee will prepare a report and recommend whether or not the pharma industry should be included in the negative list.
PPMA, in a recent hand out had expressed its reservations on free trade in the pharma industry, and imports of finished medicines in particular. Local pharmaceuticals, third largest industry and the seventh largest industrial based exports, the handout said meet 90% of the country’s requirement. To protect this industry of Rs200 billion, Asad said, finished medicines should be put in the negative list.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2011.
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Government should allow import of cheaper medicines from other countries and should ban import of costlier medicines.
@Bangladeshi: "So you see the indian companies are doing exactly the same thing as PAK companies with not much difference in quality. SO why do you want to destroy your own Pharma companies in favour of Indian companies. "
IF there is no difference in quality, why would the Pakistani pharmaceutical companies get destroyed? After all they would have the advantage of better known brand names plus transport cost would be lower compared to Indian companies.
@Bangladeshi: "The local drugs are also cheap & believe me there is not much difference between the quality & price of indian, BD & pak pharmaceuticals".
If that is the case then why are the Pak pharma manufacturers seeking protection. Why can they not compete with Indian medicines?
By the way Indian generic pharmaceuticals are exported all over the world. I do not beieve that is the case for Pak and BD pharmaceuticals. There must be some reason for that don't you think?
if indian drugs of the same or better quality than pakistan drugs then y not allow their import. Also we need to be grateful to Indian medical community for treating our people in their country many a times free of cost.
@Bangladeshi: If Pakistani pharmaceuticals have the same quality as Indian, how many companies are operating in US/EU/Japan? None. How many have their Drug Master File (DMF) approved by FDA ? None. Before a drug is marketed in US, the companies needs to submit DMF to FDA and subject its manufacturing facilities to inspection by FDA agents. Finally, don't drag patriotism into each and every sphere of human activity. Clearly, Pakistani pharmaceuticals have work to do (diversify, improve quality control and establish scientific and technical base) before you can claim parity with Indian pharmaceuticals.
@Why????: what are you talking about. Can you name any credible source to back up your claim? As far a I know your country has turned into a huge Lab & poor indians have become guinea pigs for clinical trails of pre marketed drugs by profit hungry Diagnostic centers & western companies. What are you doing about the unfair clinical trails taking place with the victims not even knowing that they are being experimented with , as legally it is obligatory by the Phar companies to seek permission for clinical trails from the subjected patient. Maybe 1 company of yours that is reddy’s labs have haven jointly devoloping a drug with another US company & this is a first time for an indian company. Anyway can you please back up your claim about INDIA having the largest no. of patents after the US. calling me ignorant is equal to saying that a blind can lead another blind. INDIA has a long way to go & you guys should clear up you misconseptions as there is no fault in admitting your flaws.
@Bangladeshi: Some times ignorance is a bliss... You know indian pharmaceutical companies have the largest number of patents only second to USA. Have you ever heard of companies like ranbaxy, biocon, reddy's labs etc to start a few. Not even china comes close to our medical and pharmaceutical prowess. Indian labs are not only providing cheap but quality drugs all most all countries of the world even USA. It's pakistan people's choice whether they want to take advice of an ungrateful bangladeshi or a well informed indian.
@rehmat: Its not the poor sick people who will be benefited but the Indian Pharma companies while the local PAK manufactures will suffer. The local drugs are also cheap & believe me there is not much difference between the quality & price of indian, BD & pak pharmaceuticals. The pharma companies of the above mentioned countries just formulate drugs which are actually innovated by western countries since the R&D& time required to devolop new drugs is way out of these countries league & yes Regional power India is also in this league. The western companies that devolops new drugs are legally protected under patent law internationally (all UN members) for a certain period of time & within this time frame they are free from competition even from their own countries other manufacturers. This time of worldwide monopoly is allowed so that they can get back all the money spent on R&D for drug devolopment but devoloping countries which includes India are exempted from this patent law on humanitarian grounds until 2016. The companies of devoloping countries if they wish can copy any patented new drug very cheaply & can even export them allowing the population of the poorer countries access to cheap & good quality medicine. So you see the indian companies are doing exactly the same thing as PAK companies with not much difference in quality. SO why do you want to destroy your own Pharma companies in favour of Indian companies. If not for your own companies copying new drugs you poor countrymen would had to buy drugs for prices fixed by the patented company which is 10 times more costly & would have deprived your own population from good health care service.
@rehmat: sadly the answer is clear!
The question is whose priorities will the Pak government consider: the poor sick people who will be denied cheaper medicines or the wealthy fat cat pharma industrialists?
No body lobbies for ban on Indian movies ...... but something that is beneficial to the common man as it will gonna reduce the prices of life saving drugs especially ........... will always be somehow stopped to benefit the hoarders and mafias......... Ironic