SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 71ST FIP WORLD CONGRESS OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 4th September 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to inaugurate the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2011 and the 71st Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), an organization which will be celebrating the Centenary year of its establishment next year. I congratulate the FIP, as also the Indian Pharmaceutical Association who have jointly organized this Conference, where the theme is "Compromising Quality and Safety - A Risky Path". It is a very appropriate topic, given that safe and good quality medicines alongwith their responsible use, is a very critical area in the field of healthcare.

Medical science has made tremendous progress, newer machines, better technologies and new drugs are now available. But the other side of the story, and a matter of concern, is that a very large part of the world population, mostly in developing countries has inadequate or no access to healthcare or essential medicines at affordable cost. Resultantly, the mortality rate and disease incidence is high. The health sector is linked with creating a better and healthy world. Of the Millennium Development Goals, those relating to child health, maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, are dependent on providing healthcare. Disease reduces the capacity to work, and is a major reason that poor patients borrow, and then get trapped in the vicious circle of debt and poverty. How to achieve access to healthcare and essential good quality medicines for all, at a reasonable cost, must be an essential part of any discussion on pharmaceutical sciences. The developed countries need to work closely with developing countries, in addressing healthcare issues and sharing their expertise and experiences.

In India the development of health services and infrastructure is one of the priority areas. The sector is expanding and has also achieved much. Hospital and medical facilities in India are an attractive destination for medical tourism. Our mission however, is to extend the coverage of healthcare, particularly amongst our urban poor and to rural areas. This offers many opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships. I do hope that many of you present here will come forward to work in expanding health coverage in India.

Alongwith skilled and dedicated healthcare providers, treatment with medicines are one of the most cost-effective medical interventions known. Most illnesses, especially infectious diseases, are either preventable or treatable with medicines. But it is estimated, that more than 50 percent of all medicines worldwide are prescribed, dispensed, or sold inappropriately. 50 percent of patients fail to take them correctly. This results in health complications. Aware of the enormity of the task of ensuring the safe and judicious use of medicines, the Government of India initiated a National Pharmacovigilance Programme in July 2010. It is designed to monitor adverse drug reactions of medicines on the Indian population, so that based on data; decisions can be taken about appropriateness of medicines.

Measures to improve the rational use of medicines bring into play the role of pharmacy professionals, whose role in recent years, has evolved. New drugs are being introduced, which include high tech pharma products, vaccines as well as new dosage forms and new routes of drug administrations. Patients now need much counseling on how to take medicine safely. Pharmacy is an important component of the multidisciplinary Health Care Sector. Pharmacists must have new knowledge and skills and many countries are introducing, expanding and undertaking major reforms in pharmacy education. This must be accompanied by robust systems to assure the quality of educational structures, processes and outcomes. In India the inflow of pharmacy professionals per annum is around 41,000 from diploma institutions and around 50,000 from degree institutions. The Pharma D. programme has been introduced, as also the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) have been established in the country, to focus on pharmaceutical sciences. Looking at the future, India is aware of the need to increase the strength of clinically and technologically trained pharmacy professionals, to meet growing requirements, including for its expanding pharma industry.

Ladies and Gentleman,

The Indian pharmaceutical industry has a wide range of capabilities, and is already contributing a substantial share to global production. By 2015, it is expected to become a U.S. $ 20 billion industry, from its present turnover of U.S. $ 12 billion. It is already the third largest in the world, by volume. Indian pharma companies have an extensive presence in many parts of the world, and our pharmaceutical products are known to be of good quality, safety and efficacy. Indian generic drugs have helped in bringing down the cost of treatment of various diseases world-wide, which includes HIV/AIDS.

The pharma industry must respond to the emerging patterns of diseases, and to growing concerns about disease causing agents becoming resistant to existing drugs. This necessitates increased focus on research and development, including in the newer frontiers of medicine like bio-technology. With its proven IT sector, demonstrated leadership in bio-technology, a vast pool of trained personnel and cost advantages, India can emerge as a significant player in global pharmaceutical research. It already has the largest number of US FDA approved plants outside of the U.S.A., and is expected to be among the world's top five innovative hubs with contributions of around 50 percent to drugs discovered worldwide. It has a competitive cost advantage and a pool of skilled workforce, of high managerial and technical competence. Hence, several MNC pharma companies are increasingly making India their Research and Development hub.

The holding in India, of this Conference on Pharma and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is a recognition of India's strength in these. I also believe that we should draw on the rich resource of our indigenous knowledge of medicine, and reach out to those who have effective remedies but are hesitant to disclose them, and bring these into broader usage. Producing some ayurvedic drugs is tedious and a time-consuming process. A short cut for their procedure reduces the efficacy of such a drug. This should not be lost sight of while producing Ayurvedic medicines. India has much to offer the world in terms of alternative medicine and its potential must be tapped. Greater focus is required in this regard to propagate its efficacy.

It is the responsibility of every healthcare provider and healthcare organizations in a country, to ensure that the quality and safety of medicines are not compromised. There are instances of spurious drugs, which are so harmful to health, being produced. This is a crime and an unethical practice. So, the theme of this meeting "Compromising Quality and Safety - A Risky Path" is important. It should not be left to the Government alone to identify such unscrupulous producers, the industry must also have a wing to find out such practices, and bring it to the notice of the Government to take action. The Conference should look at issues of how to create access to affordable, quality medicines within a sound regulatory environment. How can we bring about paradigm shifts in drug discovery, development, regulation and usage of medicines, particularly relevant to emerging disease profiles? How can pharmacy education be challenged to meet the demands of industry, the regulatory bodies and hospital pharmacists?

With these words I wish all the participants success in their deliberations.

Thank you.

JAI HIND!