This was disclosed by the union minister for chemicals and fertilisers, Suresh Prabhu, at the annual meet of the Pharmaceutical & Allied Manufacturers' and Distributors' Association Ltd (Pamdal) recently. Prabhu said the new drug policy would be presented after he studies Dr Mashelkar's report and the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO) committee report, according to a Pamdal press release.

He said the pharmaceutical sector is on the threshold of change and added that industry's suggestions can be looked into provided it satisfies three criteria-drugs should be sufficiently available; medicines should be affordable as government also acts as a custodian to the people and the quality of drugs should not be compromised. Earlier, Pamdal president Nayan Patel said that Indian pharmaceutical industry is coming of age and will facethe challenges and competition of established global players, particularly in the wake of new legislation and regulations.

Patel also said that India's per capita consumption of pharmaceuticals is rather low when compared with the US and Canada and added that the domestic industry will have to explore the export market and be globally acceptable.