Lok Sabha Question No. 2020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Raw Material Import from China
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Rakesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †2020 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 rd  March, 2020

## Raw Material Import from China

## †2020. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

## Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the raw material for most of the medicines are imported from China and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the import of raw materials from China has stopped due to the corona virus and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  adequate stock  of  medicines  is  available  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether there is an apprehension of shortage of medicines in the country due to the said crisis and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  considered  any  measures  to  tackle  this  problem and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a): The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is 3 rd largest in the world by the volume and 14 th largest in terms of value. India exported medicines worth US $ mn 14389 in Financial Year 2018-19. India also exported Bulk Drug/Drug Intermediates worth US $ 3911 in Financial Year 2018-19. However, the country also imports various Bulk Drugs/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for producing medicines. Two-thirds of the total imports of Bulk Drugs, Drug Intermediates is from China. The details of India's  imports  of  Bulk  Drugs,  Drug  Intermediates  (including  from  China)  are  as under:

| Years   |   Total import (US $ mn) |   Imports from China (US$ mn) | Percent of Import from China   |
|---------|--------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2018-19 |                  3560.35 |                       2405.42 | 67.56%                         |

- (b): No, Sir.
- (c): At present, we have sufficient stock of medicines.
- (d):    Yes,  Sir.  If  the  epidemic  of  Corona  virus  in  China  continues  to  disrupt manufacturing  of  APIs/KSMs  in  China,  then  there  is  an  apprehension  that  the supplies of APIs/KSMs from China might be disrupted.
- (e): Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  has  constituted  a  Committee  under  the chairmanship of Dr. Eshwara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to address the issue of drug security in the country in the context of novel coronavirus outbreak in China. Based on the recommendations of  the  Committee,  the  department  has  issued  necessary  instructions  to  National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and  State  Governments  to  ensure  adequate  supply  of  APIs  and  formulations  at affordable  prices  in  the  market  and  to  prevent  black-marketing,  illegal  hoarding, creating artificial shortages in the country. In this regard, Department of Pharmaceuticals has written to DGFT to restrict exports of 13 API and formulations. NPPA  has  also  written  to  Chief  Secretaries  of  States  with  copies  to  Principal Secretaries Health and State Drug Controllers requesting them to closely monitor the production and availability of APIs and formulations to prevent the black marketing and hoarding in their States and UTs as well as to ensure that there is no violation of provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 with regard to compliance of ceiling prices/  permissible  increase  in  prices  of  scheduled/  non-scheduled  formulations respectively.

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