Reining in medicine prices despite war impact on pharma inputs: Official

A senior official in India’s Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Thursday said there has been no major increase in the prices of pharmaceutical drugs despite the war in West Asia impacting global supply chains of certain essential inputs, particularly solvents and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The Government of India has taken note of the disruptions and devising strategies to meet the challenges, Joint Secretary to the Department of Pharmaceuticals Satyaprakash T. L. said, adding propylene, ammonia and methanol were the key solvents the pharmaceutical industry requires and and whose supplies have been affected. Butanol is needed in smaller quantities for certain antibiotics.

Propylene remains the most critical input since it is used in Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and Isobutyl Benzene production, which are used in medicines such as Ibuprofen. A significant share of propylene supply is being met through BPCL’s Kochi and Mumbai refineries and supplied to major manufacturers of Isopropyl Alcohol.

The Ministry and the Department are working in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential inputs for pharmaceutical manufacturing, the official said at the inter-ministerial briefing on the situation in West Asia.

With methanol supply emerging as an area of concern, Assam Petrochemicals and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC) have agreed to supply adequate quantities.

Availability of methylated ammonium products, used as intermediates for medicines such as Metformin and Aspirin, is being closely monitored, Mr.Satyaprakash said.

Supplies of aluminium meant for pharmaceutical packaging had faced constraints. Restoration of the supply is “underway” and expected to normalise within a week. Supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and diesel required for ampoule and vial sealing are being closely monitored. “Pharmaceutical units are presently not facing shortages,” he said.