APPON calls for level playing field

Nepali pharmaceuticals producers have urged neighbouring countries for reciprocal treatment to their products. They also complained of lack of effective monitoring of sub-standard products flooding the market.
"If other countries do not let our products enter, then our government should levy the highest tariff -- under the World Trade Orgsanisation (WTO) norms -- on the import of drugs that Nepali manufacturers produce sufficiently in the country," said Pradeep Man Vaidya, immediate past president (IPP) of the Association of Pharmaceuticals Producers of Nepal (APPON) at the association's 15th annual general meeting (AGM) here today.
"The market is flooded with unregistered and sub-standard drugs due to ineffective monitoring of the Department of Drugs Management," he said adding that on one hand Nepali companies are hurt while on the other people are compelled to buy fake products - especially in Tarai - a problem that often has fatal effects.
Every drug sold in the country needs to be registered and certified by the Department of Drugs Management but still the market is flooded with unregistered and sub-standard drugs. "The department lacks manpower and adequate infrascture for effective monitoring," Pradeep Jung Pandey, vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and former president of APPON said. "The government also needs to bring a new policy to boost the confidence of pharma producers," he said adding that the present Act was brought one-and-a-half decades ago. "The present Act - brought in 2051 BS - is also a major hurdle in developing the pharma industry," Pandey said.
If the government brings a supportive policy, Nepal can be self-dependent by 2013, Vaidya said, adding, "It will not only produce sufficient pharma products but also start exporting them."
There are currently over 40 pharmaceutical industries that fulfil 35 per cent of the total market demand in Nepal. "In 1970, the pharma industry came into existence but it is only after 1990 that the sector started flourishing," informed said APPON president Umesh Lal Shrestha, who has been re-elected for another term.
Without economic development the country cannot develop, he said adding that like other industries the Rs 7 billion pharma industry is also hurt by long hours of power-outage, fuel shortage, worsening labour problems, frequent bandhs, unstable politics and policy level hurdles."Over a dozen companies are WHO/GMP certified and more are in the process of getting certified which would guarantee the quality of domestic products," Shrestha added. "Apart from that, Nepali drugs are cheaper as well."
"Nepali drugs are of international quality," affirmed health secretary Dr Dirgha Singh Bam adding that unhealthy and unethical competition has marred the Nepali pharma industry. "It is the government's responsibility to protect the national industry and give it priority," he said.
Nepal Medical Association (NMA) president Dr Chop Lal Bhusal supported Dr Bam's stance and urged the government to protect the national industry.
Minister for Industries, Astalaxmi Shakya, assured APPON of the government's support.

New Team
KATHMANDU: The 15th AGM of Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPON) elected a new executive committee under president Umesh Lal Shrestha. Mahesh Gorkhali is vice-president, whereas Shankar Ghimire is general secretary and Rajendra Kabara is treasurer. Including Immediate Past President Pradeep Man Vaidya the 11-member new executive committee took oath of the office on Friday after the AGM. The APPON was established 19 years ago.