NEW DELHI: India is the world’s largest supplier of generic drugs and accounts for 20% of the global supply by volume, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday. Indian Pharma
The minister was speaking at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission Conference 2022. “We have become the “Pharmacy of the World” by specializing in generic drug manufacturing and manufacturing and supplying affordable medicine to the world. But we still need to strengthen research in the pharmaceutical sector. To date, four countries – Afghanistan, Ghana, Nepal and Mauritius – have accepted IP as the book of standards. We must create a roadmap and move forward so that more countries can accept our pharmacopoeia.”
Mandaviya released the ninth edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia, which sets official standards for drugs produced and/or marketed in India and thus contributes to the quality control of drugs. It intends to help license the manufacture, inspection and distribution of drugs in the country.
“The world has started recognizing us and valuing and accepting our work. We must focus on how our pharmacopeia can leverage this by focusing on international trade and industries based on our strengths in indigenous medicines.”
During the COVID pandemic, India distributed accessible and affordable vaccines to 150 countries. “While distributing vaccines and other generic medicines to many countries, we have never compromised on quality and standards or provided substandard or counterfeit medicines. As a result of this, India has earned a global reputation.”