India supplies 20pc of global generic drugs
New Delhi, Feb 22 : Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said Indian pharmaceutical industry supplies around 10pc of total global production, which also amounts to around 20pc of total volume of global generics. "The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of a Chemical and Fertilizers has informed that as per the Report of the Working Group on Drugs and Pharmaceuticals for 12th Five Year Plan, the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry has grown from Rs.71000 crores in 2007 to over Rs.1 lac crores in 2009-2010 comprising Rs.62,055 crores of domestic market and exports of over Rs.42,154 crores," said Azad in the Lok Sabha.
"The Industry is ranked 3rd globally in volume and 14th in value, supplying around 10% of total global production. This also amounts to around 20% of total volume of global generics. Thus, every 5th Tablet, Capsule and Injectable in generic drugs consumed anywhere in the World is manufactured in India," he said.
The minister said: "Instructions have been issued from time to time to all Central Government hospitals and CGHS dispensaries to prescribe generic medicines to the maximum extent possible. The State Governments have also similarly been asked to instruct their doctors to prescribe generic medicines."