The government will soon come up with 10 pharma clusters in the country. Releasing the proceedings of the ^12th National Pharmaceuticals Conclave on March 20, the union chemicals and fertilizers minister, Mr Ananth Kumar said that these clusters will provide common facilities to the pharmaceutical industry, and help them hive off upto 25 percent of the cost, making them globally competitive. He said that for these clusters, a strategy has been decided for early implementation.

The minister said that that there are valuable suggestions in the report which will be promptly examined, and taken up for action. He said that the Government wants to ensure that the four pillars of the industry - Quality, Affordability, Availability and Stability are in position. He said that the Government wants to provide health security for the poor people of the country, and this requires innovative strategies like supply of generic medicines, building domestic capacity in bulk drugs, and making pharma sector competitive.

Mr Ananth Kumar said that unified policy, regulation and administration mechanism is required for the pharmaceutical industry, and he has recommended to the Prime Minister to set up a separate department for the same. He said that on the issue of Bulk drugs production in the country, Katoch committee report has been received in the Ministry, and an action plan is being prepared for its implementation. Once its recommendations are put in place, it will make Indian industry viable and competitive.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that close interaction with producers and consumers helps the Government in formulating a better policy. He said that industry and national growth go hand in hand.

The 12th National Pharmaceuticals Conclave was jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian industry and Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt of India in December 2014. The objective of the Conclave was to bring together all the stakeholders for facilitating meaningful discussions on the challenges and possible mechanisms for countering it. The Conclave was supported by all major industry associations and several Ministries of the Govt. of India. The Conclave deliberated on much-needed collaborative multisectoral approaches that meet the government's health policy objectives.

The report of the conclave has suggestions, grouped into 11 broad groups. Indications have also been made against these suggestions on what is possible to be implemented immediately (within six months), what is possible to be implemented in the short term (6-12 months) and what will need a little longer term implementation phase (1 to 3 years). The specific recommendations under them have suggested actionable interventions and an indication of timeframe and responsible stakeholders.

These groups include:

1) Single window clearance mechanism
2) Inducing manufacturing clusters
3) Unified policy mechanism
4) Capacity building across functions
5) Developing a national innovation strategy
6) Creating innovation fund targeted towards specific therapy areas
7) Streamlining IP operations
8) Evidence-based price controls
9) Greater industry academia collaboration
10) Streamlining clinical trials
11) Ensuring quality compliance.