India dependent on China for essential drugs, imports take lead in past 3 yrs
02 December, New Delhi
India is dependent on China for imports of bulk drugs and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients for producing certain essential medicines, the Rajya Sabha was informed Friday.
In a written reply, Minister of Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L Mandaviya said, ”Imports of bulk medicines from China have increased considerably in the last three years as against the total imports made during this period. Out of the total imports of Rs 18,991.14-crore, Rs 12,061.53-crore of drugs were imported from China alone.”
”This figure increased to Rs 12,757.96-crore against the overall imports of Rs 19,833.20-crore in 2014-15.The year 2015-16 recorded the highest imports of generic drugs from China at Rs 13,853.20-crore against the total imports of Rs 21,216.-core,” he said.
The Minister said as India is a signatory to the WTO and the TRIPs Agreement, the import restrictions have been removed and imports made on economic considerations have gradually resulted in the present dependence.
”The Government always endeavours to formulate policies which will reduce the country’s dependence on imports of drugs from China. In this direction, the Government had on January 29, 2016 notified the withdrawal of exemption in customs duties which were earlier given to certain categories of drugs and bulk drugs to provide a boost to domestic manufacturers,” the Minister added