Question : PRODUCTION OF MEDICINES

(a) whether it is a fact that India is placed at 4th position among the medicines producing countries in the world;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether about 64.90 crores of India`s population are deprived of absolutely necessary medicines and occupies the first place in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the medicines are exported to other countries; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to provide all its citizens the minimum needed medicines?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)

(a) to (f): The Indian pharmaceutical industry has grown from a mere US$0.3 billion turnover in 1980 to about $ 20 Billion in 2010. The country now ranks 3rd in terms of volume of production (10% of global share) and 14th largest by Value(1.5%). One reason for lower value share is the lower cost of drugs in Indian ranging from 5% to 50% less as compared to developed countries. Indian pharma industry growth has been fuelled by exports and its products are exported to more than 200 countries with a sizeable share in advanced regulated market of US and Western Europe. The pharmaceutical Policy as amended time to time also envisages making available quality medicines at reasonable price to the masses.