SATISH HANDA

Healthcare sector is at the epicenter of this unprecedented global pandemic challenge witnessing a slowdown due to disruptions to global value chains, lower foreign direct investments, capital outflows, tighter financing conditions, remittance receipts and price pressures for some critical import. Considering the issues of Indian health sector and the challenges, ASSOCHAM initiated an Online Interaction with senior government officer and key industry stakeholders which was supported by Ind Swift Group & Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc and leading industry and government stakeholders participated and shared their views.

Dr. K Bangarurajan, Joint Drug Controller India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry  of health and family welfare India in his address on measures taken by Government of India for the healthcare sector, said in early February they constituted the group of secretaries for each sector to take the measures for combating from COVID 19 timely. He added, pharma industries are counted under the essentials since long due to avoidance of dearth of drugs, medicines. Also problem of scarcity of laborers has been shortened. He said, in the early march the packaging industries are also being allowed to become operational. He further added, in the first week of April industries were 30-40% operational with its capacity. But now the operations are slowly and gradually increasing to 60-70% of its capacity. Later, he mentioned allowance of interstate travel of laborers for pharma industries will be permitted shortly. Dr Bangarurajan also said licenses to all the sanitizer manufacturers are issued in 3 days, to more than 90 industries in Himachal & Haryana. Licenses to 22 plus PPE Kits manufactures are also issued. Lastly, he said vaccine trials are also ongoing, extension of validity of import licenses will also be made by today.

 Dr Gopal Munjal, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Regional Healthcare & Pharma Council & CEO, Ind Swift Group urged the key stakeholders to join hands for ensuring various reforms and measure to provide ample support to this sector. He also calls for new initiatives like clubbing health tourism with pharma industry to provide more strength to the entire healthcare eco-system. Dr. Dinesh Dua, CEO, Nectar Life Sciences Ltd opened the session with his welcome remarks and stated that challenging time like these is like a world war III, tough situation for every sector globally. He suggested there should be 74 days complete lock down in Red Zone Area to get back on a track. Amit Bansal, Managing Director, Theon Pharmaceuticals stated that manufacturing pharma units should be allowed to 70-80% operational with its capacity with by taking specific measure to combat COVID by unit holders otherwise there will dearth of medicines, drugs. He also suggested interstate travel for laborers should not be restricted. Among other speakers was Kuldeep Wakhloo from Lupin Pharmaceuticals