Govt’s morphine monopoly to end

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Related Articles

Food inflation rises to 14.55 pctGovt clears 17 FDI proposals of 1,158 crIndia may grow by 6-7%: CII surveyFII inflow crosses record Rs 71,900 cr-mark

New Delhi, May 11: The government’s two hundred year monopoly over processing of raw opium and manufacture of morphine and other therapeutic alkaloids derived from the natural substance is to end soon.

The finance ministry has decided to issue licences to private sector pharmaceutical companies for opium processing as well as for manufacture of opium-based drugs like morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine etc.

One objective of the move is to enable the country to produce codeine phosphate, an essential active ingredient in most cough preparations, through the superior technology route involving concentrate of poppy straw (CPS).

Currently, India has a costly import dependence (10-15 tonne a year) as far as sourcing of codeine phosphate is concerned. CPS is the opiate alkaloid-rich material obtained through the chemical processing of poppy straw. It is also an intermediate for production of a series of analgesics.

According to sources, the ministry is also considering corporatisation of the two public sector opium processing units at Gazipur in UP and Neemuch in MP, with a view to equipping them for technology upgrading.