The recently unveiled draft Pharmaceutical Policy 2017 seems to have few supporters: advocacy groups and industry representatives worry, albeit for very different reasons, on the impact that this document will have in its present avatar. The overarching concern is that the draft policy does not create an enabling environment for the industry nor does it break ground on patient access efforts. There is no mention of rational use of medicines, on beefing up the quality and the regulatory infrastructure or revival of public sector units. And pricing discussions continue in the realm of market prices without taking up the original argument on pegging prices on the cost of production. The draft policy statement also remains silent on clinical trials, intellectual property and health insurance, all of which tie into the bigger industry picture. These concerns are expected to come up at an interaction with the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) this week.

(The Hindu)