Indian pharma industry has shown healthy growth . It has impressive exports to over 200 countries of the world. Indian Patent Act, 1970 had not recognised product patents. It recognised only process patents. India produced so many copy-cat medicines by changing the process. However, drug policy of 1975 encouraged Indian pharma companies to make bulk drugs from the primary stages. The rules were formulated to promote R&D. By 1990, Indian firms were making 70 per cent of their requirements of Active Pharmacentre Ingredient (API) and intermediaries. India emerged as the largest manufacturer of anti-TB, anti-malarial drugs, antibiotics, paracetamol etc.

In 1995, WTO was founded. Rules recognised both the product and process patents. India too become a WTO member. However, India manufactured during these days off-patent US products by reverse engineering. It was a period of a boom.

India concentrated on making formulations of medicines. It did not make APIs or active pharmaceutical ingredients, say it made Crocin tablets but did not make paracetamol. Going further, API were too made from key basic ingredients (KSMs), say phenol to paracetamol. APIs and KSMs were mostly imported, especially from China. Even while making APIs in India, the intermediary ingredients were imported from China. By 2005, India stopped making many fermentation-based APIs and chemical-based APIs and KSMs.

India should concentrate on the entire manufacturing chain — should make all key inputs. India should have pharma parks with continuous processing plants and plants making key additives . India should concentrate on having global standard strains for developing fermentation-based APIs. India should have the same standards for medicines for domestic consumption as well as for exports.

India has talents pool of pharmacists, microbiologists, biotechnologists and entrepreneurs to push ahead in pharma marketing both domestically and globally.