Question : GENERIC MEDICINES

(a) whether India is the largest producer of generic medicines in the world;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the value of generic medicines produced and exported during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) the share of generic and non-generic medicines in the total sale of medicines in the country during the said period;

(d) whether the Government proposes certain measures including compulsory prescription of generic medicines by doctors to promote the consumption of generic version of medicines in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken/proposed by the Government to ensure the quality of generic medicines in the country?

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) to (c) The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of a Chemical & Fertiolizers 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. 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 The export data of the pharmaceutical products as provided by the Department of Commerce for the last three years is as under:

(Rs. In crore)

Year	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12

Exports	24,570.26	25,130.42	40,218.15