Manufacturers fear coronavirus outbreak may hit India's drug industry

prolonged shutdown in China due to vel coronavirus outbreak may affect import of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from neighbouring country, fuelling fears that drug manufacturing industry in India could be severely hit.

Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) last week constituted a high-level panel to assess its impact of outbreak of dely virus in China on supply of APIs in India.

APIs are bulk drugs or raw materials used for manufacturing medicines. India produces drugs, including antibiotics, using APIs around 80 per cent of which are imported from China, mainly from Hubei province which is epicentre of outbreak. India also exports medicines.

According to official sources, Indian drugmakers have informed high-level committee that y presently have stocks for next two to three months.

re has been supply from neighbouring country for last 20-25 days, mainly due to Chinese New Year holidays, sources said.

"If current coronavirus outbreak situation in China persists, import of APIs may be severely hit and India may face a short of drugs like antibiotics, steroids, anti-diabetics, hormones and vitamins," an official source said.

As Hubei province is severely affected, manufacturing of APIs in that region will obviously be hit, source said.

" high-level committee has examined manufacturing activity by Chinese firm and have been informed by Indian embassy in China that several manufacturers have resumed operations," official source said.

committee has submitted its preliminary report to Department of Pharmeceuticals. However, government is yet to take a decision on wher to ban export of drugs.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said issue was discussed at a meeting of high-level Group of Ministers on Thursday and Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has informed m that y have eugh stocks for next two to three months and furr arrangements will be me if situation demands so.

China has reported 1,367 deaths and total number of confirmed cases spiralled to 59,804 till Thursday due to coronavirus outbreak amid concerns that crisis is where near slowing down contrary to official projections. PTI PLB NSD