Hyderabad,
September 4, 2011
Source:THE HINDU
President Pratibha Patil receiving an icon of ancient Charminar memento
after she declared open the 71st FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science, first ever congress in India, at Hyderabad on
Sunday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Source:THE HINDU
President Pratibha Patil receiving an icon of ancient Charminar memento
after she declared open the 71st FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science, first ever congress in India, at Hyderabad on
Sunday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Anguished over manufacture of spurious drugs and unethical practices in
the Pharmaceutical industry, President Pratibha Patil today said there
was need for the industry and health care organisations to ensure
quality and safety of medicines.
“It is the responsibility of every health care provider and health care
organisation to ensure that quality and safety of medicines are not
compromised. There are instances of spurious drugs, which are harmful,
being produced. This is a crime and an unethical practice,” she said.
Patil was speaking after inaugurating the 71st World Congress of
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences organised here by International
Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and Indian Pharmaceutical Association.
“It should not be left to the Government alone to identify such
unscrupulous producers. The industry must also have a wing to find out
such practices and bring it to the notice of the Government,” she said.
The President said about 50 per cent of drugs worldwide are prescribed,
dispensed, or sold “inappropriately” which becomes a major reason for
health complications and called for efforts from the industry to curb
the misuse.
Patil said the Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to become a
USD 20 billion industry by 2015, from its present turnover of USD 12
billion.
She said though medical science has made tremendous progress, “it is a
matter of concern that a very large part of the world population, mostly
in developing countries, has inadequate or no access to health care or
essential medicines at affordable cost.”
Patil said there was need for all developing countries to work closely
for addressing health care issues and meet the Millennium Development
Goals.
The President said the industry and experts must figure out how to
provide access to health care and essential good quality medicines for
all at a reasonable cost.
She said there are ample opportunities in the sector for public-private
partnership for achieving the mission to extend the coverage of health
care, particularly amongst urban poor and rural areas.
Patil also said India has much to offer to the world in terms of
alternative medicines and the government should tap available resources
and draw on indigenous knowledge of medicine.
She said Indian Pharma industry is already the third largest in the
world by volume and Indian companies have an extensive presence across
the globe.
Indian generic drugs have helped in bringing down the cost of treatment
of various diseases world-wide, which includes HIV/AIDS, and “our
pharmaceutical products are known to be of good quality, safety and
efficacy,” she said.
The President suggested that the conference should focus on creating
access to affordable, quality medicines within a sound regulatory
environment.
The President left for New Delhi from the Begumpet airport here at around 1.30 pm after inaugurating the event.
Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar
Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, Ministers D K
Aruna, Danam Nagender and Mukesh Goud were present at the airport.
Chief Secretary S V Prasad, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan and representatives of Armed Forces were also present there.
The five-day World Congress of Pharmacy would cover different aspects of
pharmacy and pharmaceuticals sciences, like FIP Academic Pharmacy,
Clinical Biology, Community Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, Industrial
Pharmacy, Pharmacy Information and FIP Social Administrative Pharmacy.
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