Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers have slammed Pakistan’s move to ban Indian drug products following 40 deaths in that country due to a toxic cough syrup. Days after the incident, Islamabad said an ingredient imported from India to make the medicine was to blame, a claim described as “ridiculous” by the drug manufacturers here.
Slamming the charge, the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has decided take up the matter with the Pakistan government on the “blame game” played by the drug manufacturers there. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) pushed for the ban, saying Indian drug products were “adulterated”.
“This is a blame on Indian raw material suppliers” Dr PV Appaji, director general, Pharmexcil told FE. The quality of drugs exported from the country adheres to international guidelines as stipulated by country-specific regulations, he added. “We would like to mention that more than 50% of our R70,000-crore exports of pharmaceuticals are supplied to developed countries such as the US, Europe, Australia,” Appaji said. Indian manufacturers exported pharma products worth R476 crore to Pakistan in FY12. “As per drug laws of any country, every formulator is required to test the standards of imported drugs for compliance. We don?t know if rules were followed.
