Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to touch USD 55 billion by 2020

NEW DELHI: Country's pharma sector is likely to grow over three-fold to hit USD 55 billion in the next five years, even as the exports from the sector may slow down to grow at a CAGR of 7.98 per cent owing to stricter regulations in markets such as the US, Russia and Africa, says a report.

"Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to touch USD 55 billion by 2020 as against the current size of USD 18 billion but the exports may slow down to grow at a CAGR of 7.98 per cent in value terms due to tightening of regulatory mechanism in top exports markets of US, Russia and Africa," a joint report by Assocham and TechSci Research reveals.

Consolidation of pharmacy players in North America has resulted in the presence of leading firms that hold better bargaining power, it added.

The study report cited instances like the acquisition of the US distributor Celesio by US pharmacy Mckesson's in 2014, and formation of a joint venture between the US wholesale distributor Cardinal Health and CVS Caremark in 2013.

"Consolidation of pharmacy players is leading to an increase in pricing pressures for generic companies existing in the US market, which is expected to result in a decline in the year-on-year growth of pharmaceutical exports from India over the next five years," it added.

"A steep decline in currency in emerging markets such Africa, Russia, Ukraine and Venezuela may add to woes of drug manufacturers that supply pharmaceutical drugs to that region and are unable to generate high revenues on account of selling their drugs at a low priced currency," the report said.

India is the largest supplier of medicine to the US and pharmaceutical exports from India rose from USD 3.44 billion in 2013 to USD 3.76 billion in 2014.

"Pharmaceutical exports to the US are rising due to the increasing demand for high quality generic drugs in the market. However, the growth rate for exports of pharmaceutical products from India to the US is declining, due to increasing US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scrutiny on the quality of pharma products coming from drug manufacturing plants located in India.

"In order to boost the growth rate of exports to the US, Indian companies will need to leverage their compliance to US FDA regulations," it added.

The report further said the exchange rate issue in the country is affecting the pharmaceuticals market in Russia.

"For example, Dr. Reddy's pharma revenues in Russia dropped 9 per cent in dollar terms despite a rise of 30 per cent in Rubles. Hence, stabilisation of the currency is of utmost importance in generating revenues through exports," according to the report.

In addition, many Indian companies are operating through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Program (PBP) and hospital tenders, for supplying vital and essential drugs, for which prices are then regulated by the Russian government, it said.

Besides, exports of pharmaceutical products to Africa are being affected due to port delays and prolonged custom valuation, testing and certification requirements and the cost of returning consignments to India is huge and registration process for any generic pharmaceutical drug is time consuming, the report said.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-12-28/news/69356641_1_exports-pharmaceuticals-market-pharmacy-players

Govt Plans Stricter Norms for Pharma Product Ads in India

Advertisers of pharmaceutical products and medical devices may soon face stricter curbs. The government is planning to make amendments to the drug law to keep a check on advertisements which may be misleading consumers.

While advertisement of prescription drugs is prohibited in the country, companies often find loopholes in the law to advertise about therapies or run campaigns related to such products. These products are often tweaked to circumvent the law and instead become qualified as food products which can be marketed through promotions and advertisements. Similarly, there are no stringent regulations for medical device advertisements while many new products are making their way into the market.

Taking cognizance of the trend, the health ministry and the Central drug regulator are now trying to tighten the norms and regulations to keep a check on such ads which may misguide consumers. "We are revisiting the law which prohibits advertisements of prescription products. We are trying to bring in amendments which will impose more restrictions as well as monitor that promotional content is not misleading the consumer," a senior official in the Drug Controller General of India's office told TOI.

According to the official, the proposed changes will also include ayurvedic and homoeopathic products and all kinds of medical devices besides stricter norms for medicines.

Recently, a parliamentary committee on health and family welfare slammed the government for "recurring delay" in amending the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The committee had also suggested that the health ministry must initiate action for inserting a new provision of seeking prior approval for advertisement content.

http://www.adageindia.in/marketing/news/govt-plans-stricter-norms-for-pharma-ads-in-india/articleshow/50543405.cms

The Indian pharmaceutical market has for the first time crossed the Rs 100000 crore

MUMBAI: The Indian pharmaceutical market has for the first time crossed the Rs 100000 crore mark in November when calculated on the basis of Moving Annual Total (MAT), said IMS Health, a global pharmaceutical market research firm.

In its monthly review of the local market, IMS Health said in its note titled Market Reflections that Indian companies took over three-fourth of the market share during the month.

On an average over the last three years, Indian pharmaceutical market has grown by 12%. Almost 38% of the market was dominated by drugs that treat infections, heart ailments and patients with gastro-intestinal issues. IMS report said in November, Indian market was at Rs 100115 crore, of which the retail sector was valued at Rs 84279 crore.

Sun Pharma remained at the top of the list of drug companies with a market share of 8%, followed by Abbott with a share of 6.1%. Cipla trailed at 5.4% but grew higher than its top peers showing growth of 16% during the month. Mankind Pharma has jumped past its traditional rivals to secure the fourth position with a market share of 3.7%, standing above Alkem, GlaxoSmithKline and Zydus Cadila.

Mixtard, a popular insulin marketed by Abbott, continued to hold the position of the largest brand for the month followed by Pfizer cough syrup Corex and Glycomet-gp, a diabetes brand of USV.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-12-16/news/69090998_1_market-share-indian-companies-ims-health

India’s maiden med devices and pharma park to come up in Gujarat State

Gujarat government allots 60 acres for NIPER campus being set up at a cost of around Rs 500 crores

The Centre is mulling setting up the country’s maiden medical devices and pharma park in Gujarat in a bid to make India self-reliant in the sector. This was stated by Ananth Kumar, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, who sought cooperation from the state government to implement these projects and the latter responded positively in terms of providing land for them.

According to Kumar, though India is doing well in manufacturing pharma products, it is still not self- reliant in the medical devices sector.

“This is an era of medical devices. But, even today, India is not self-reliant in producing these devices. Thus, we are planning to open first such medical devices park here in Gujarat if the government provides us cheaper land for it,” Kumar said in the presence of Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat.

The Gujarat government has alloted 60 acres for the campus being set up on Chiloda Road at a cost of around Rs 500 crores, stated an official press release. Kumar said a centre of excellence will be started in the institute. “Apart from imparting studies and conducting research and development in the field of pharma, this institute will also have a centre of excellence for developing new medical devices.”

The Minister also announced government’s plans to set up the first-ever drug discovery centre and a pharma park in Gujarat.


http://www.financialexpress.com/article/healthcare/happening-now/indias-maiden-med-devices-and-pharma-park-to-come-up-in-gujarat/180091/

Delhi government is set to launch a two-year diploma course in Homoeopathy Pharmacy

The Delhi government is set to launch a two-year diploma course in Homoeopathy Pharmacy which will help aspiring pharmacists in this field to take up jobs in government hospitals as well as operate state-run dispensaries in the national capital.

According to a report in Press Trust of India (PTI), the Board' s chairman K K Juneja said, "The Board of Homoeopathic System of Medicine under the Health Department of Delhi government is going to introduce 'Diploma in Homoeopathic Pharmacy Course' as per provisions of Delhi Homoeopathic Act, 1956. Such a course is a landmark and milestone in the development of science of homoeopathy. It is a historic addition for homoeopathy in Delhi and India". He added saying that the course was notified in an official gazette by Delhi government.

The eligibility criterion for the course, also called Homoeopathy Compounder course, has been fixed as intermediate pass in science stream. It will provide theoretical and practical training. "Those completing Diploma in Homoeopathic Pharmacy will have job opportunities in government sector like homoeopathic medical colleges and hospitals, Delhi government dispensaries, private homoeopathic clinics etc. They can also open their own homoeopathic pharmacy or chemist shops," Juneja added.

Also, the Delhi government has directed the heads of schools in the national capital to issue swine flu advisory and to exhibit public notices about the respiratory disease on their notice boards.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/homoeopathy-pharmacy-delhi-government/1/505410.html

MedsOnWay.com launches pharmacy app

MedsOnWay.com, a pharmacy-portal recently launched its Android App, dedicated to help consumers buy drugs at an economical price.

Founders Aniket Bora and Prashant Pillai started the app with the aim of promoting generic drugs and the cost effectiveness associated with it.

"The application's different innovative features make shopping for medicines an easy and hassle-free experience. One can simply upload their prescription online and order medicines directly. Users can avail an assured discount of 10% on their bills along with free home delivery. They can also save up to 70% per month by opting for affordable generic substitutes for their medicines," said Bora.

"We plan to have presence in 4 cities by next year and 12 major cities by 2017. We project to capture around 0.5 % of chronic market summing up to approx 18,000 crores by 2017. At the moment, we have 80,000 medicines registered with us," he added.

Pillai said, "With the app, we hope to eradicate the recurrent problem of non-availability of medicines in the nearest pharmacy store. We have a sturdy supply chain management model that runs on three efficient steps - strong distribution channel, assured availability and timely delivery."

http://tengible.com/2015/08/medsonway-app-launch/

Kerala Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (KIPER) to start functioning from 2017

Kerala Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (KIPER), an academic initiative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kerala (PSK), a society of pharmacists registered with Kerala Pharmacy Council, will commence its higher education programmes from 2017.

At the outset, the academic programmes of the institute will begin with diploma and degree courses, and gradually it will grow into the level of a premier educational institute to offer higher education and research programmes in pharmaceutical sciences, as per the project plan of PSK.

The plan is on the lines of the central institute, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), working under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, government of India. PSK is a subsidiary of Kerala State Pharmacy Council which provided financial assistance to the Society to buy five acre land for setting up the prestigious institution, said Dr K G Revikumar, chairman of the Society.

KIPER is the first pharmacy higher educational institution under the control of a state pharmacy council in the country. The institute will be affiliated to Kerala Health University and will function in the style of a self-financing college, he added.

“Although it is planned for imparting higher education in pharmacy, the main focus will be for conducting training and orientation programmes, and continuous education programmes. The institute will become a centre of excellence in education, research and development in pharmaceutical sciences in five years. it is the first educational institute started by a state pharmacy council,” said Dr. KGR.

He said the state government has given its approval earlier and construction of infrastructural facilities for the institute will be started next month. Approval of Pharmacy Council of India and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) is expected on completion of the building. PSK is expecting more financial aids from central and state governments for various research projects undertaken by it and also for infrastructure development. The central fund will be issued through Pharmacy Council of India. Further, PSK will mobilise funds from working pharmacists, NRIs and other leading institutions. It has been decided to commence classes at KIPER from the academic year 2017.

Generally, the pharmacy colleges and research institutes are run either by government or private people or trust. But in Maharashtra, the state branch of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) has one pharmacy college.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=90336&sid=1