The twelve member Task Force under the Chairmanship of Secretary Health Research and DG ICMR and co- chaired by DGHS will have members drawn from National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Industry Policy and Promotion, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, Mumbai, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, Mumbai, Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, Mumbai, Federation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs, Gurgaon, Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry, Bulk Drug Manufacturers’ Association, Hyderabad, SME Pharma Industry Confederation, New Delhi and Drug Controller General of India as the Member Secretary. In addition, the Chairman of the Task Force may also co-opt any other expert in the relevant area as is considered necessary.

The Terms of Reference of the Task Force would be:

1. Evolve a Short, Medium & Long term policy & Strategy to make India as a hub for Drug Discovery, Research & Development.

2. Evolve strategies to further the interests of Indian Pharma industry in the light of issues related to Intellectual Property Rights and recommend strategies to capitalize the opportunity of 60 to 80 Billion USD Drugs going off – Patent over next 5 years.

3. Evolve Policy measures to assure National Drugs Security i.e.

• Promoting indigenous production of bulk Drugs
• Preventing take over of Indian Pharma industry by MNCs
• Drug Pricing
• Promotion of Generic Drugs and Recommend measures to assure adequate availability of Quality Generic Drugs at affordable prices.

4. Recommend measures to tackle the problem of spurious drugs – use of anti counterfeit technologies.

5. Consider and advise on any other issue incidental to the above.

6. Devise roadmaps for implementation of all recommended measures.

The Task Force has been asked to submit its report within three months.

Shri Azad had recently met with the drug manufacturers in Mumbai and Hyderabad. In both the meetings the leaders of the Pharma Industry had requested the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister to constitute a Task Force to prepare a long term strategy for strengthening of the drug sector in the country and take all aspects of the drug industry on board including those concerning medical devices, clinical research organizations, R&D labs etc. Keeping in view the sentiments of the industry, the above Task Force had been constituted.