Indian pharma firms are closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus in China as it could impact the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the country, if the situation in the neighbouring nation does not improve soon. China accounted for 67.56 per cent of total imports of bulk drugs and drug intermediates in 2018-19 at USD 2,405.42 million. “The situation is being closely monitored by all companies. The government is seized of the issue and all are working in an integrated way to deal with the situation.” Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) Secretary General Sudarshan Jain told PTI. The areas being looked into are close monitoring of the developments, inventory of critical APIs / intermediates, evaluation of alternate sources where possible and regulatory approvals for environmental clearance for certain APIs where capacity is available, he added.

(Economic Times)