Uttar Pradesh: Drug firms’ problems to be resolved on priority, CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday assured the delegation of small and medium category medicine manufacturers, which met him to apprise about their problems, that prompt action would be taken to resolve their problems.

Connected through the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, UP, the members pointed out that once Kanpur was a known hub of medicine manufacturing but the glory was lost.

Accusing the working system and culture of the food safety and drug administration department responsible for the current situation, the delegation comprising president Chandresh Bhargava, general secretary Atul Seth and member Akshat Seth, said that new units were not being set up and the existing ones were struggling to keep themselves alive. As a result, many owners were shutting down projects.

“Officials are not allowing sale of medicines which have been permitted by the Drug Controller General of India whereas the other states are exercising their power (under direct principles of state policy) to facilitate sale and manufacture of drugs to fast-track processes and promote the sector,” the association members claimed.

They alleged that while medicines made in UP were banned for sale in the state, the department was allowing manufacturers from other states to meet the demand.

The members informed the CM that many small and medium manufacturing units in the state were unable to apply for official tenders as the department had imposed mandatory turnover clause (in which each participant must have an annual turnover of Rs 5-20 crore) for participation.

“The authorities say that small and medium unit owners fail to supply medicines on time, which is not correct,” they claimed.

They said the official panel to approve manufacturing and appointment of chemists had met only a few times in the past two years due to various reasons including the pandemic which was preventing skilled youth from getting their due employment.