Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Chemical and Fertilisers Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has lauded the contribution of Indian pharma industry during the testing time of COVID expressing confidence that Indian pharma industry will be among the first one to develop and supply low cost vaccines for this pandemic.
Gowda was addressing a Webinar organised by Invest India Pharma Bureau and Department of pharmaceuticals on ” EIF2020 Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Sector Edition – unravelling the investment potential, Gol initiatives, infrastructure & emerging opportunities in the sector” through video conferencing on September 16, 2020, evening.
He said, “It is matter of great pride for me and millions of Indians that from being a net importer, India has become second largest producer of PPE Kits in the world with daily production capacity surpassing more than 5 lakh per day.”
Similarly,in case of ventilators, within a very short span of time, indigenous production capacity has increased to 3 lakh per annum. In addition, India did not face any scarcity of medicine and prices of medicine remained stable throughout. This was achieved due to active cooperation among various Departments and agencies of the Central Government, State Governments and private sector, Gowda said, according to a PIB release.
Stressing on the need of development of indigenous capacity in Medical devices Gowda said, “It is very important as it has a crucial role to play in improving accessibility and affordability of healthcare especially with respect to availability of precision devices for screening and diagnosis, advanced surgical equipment needed for treatment, and devices for monitoring of health indicators, among others.”