Commerce ministry proposal on FDI limit in pharma sector faces criticism

23 Sep 2011 Evaluate

The government’s recommendation to cap the foreign direct investment (FDI) in pharmaceutical sector has been criticized by the lobby groups representing foreign investors and industry experts. The ministry of commerce and industry wants new foreign investment in the domestic pharmaceutical companies to be examined by the government on the concern that an increasing number of acquisitions of domestic pharmaceutical companies by overseas companies will increase the cost and hence affect the affordability of poor people for healthcare.

Earlier in this week, the commerce ministry asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the issue, whereby requesting to bring FDI in pharma sector under the Foreign Investment Promotion Board’s examination instead of clearing these under the current 100% automatic route. However, industry experts are of the view that government should use agencies such as Competition Commission of India and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority efficiently to make sure the fair use of foreign investment instead of blindly limiting the investment. Restricting the FDI investment into Pharma sector will not be a permanent solution. 

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) that manages the policy framework allowing or restricting FDI in the country, under the ministry of commerce and industries, in July came out with a discussion paper inviting views on the rationale and relevance of caps on FDI. After this, the DIPP had pushed for some kind of restriction in foreign investment into sector due to increasing accusation in the sector by overseas companies. 

The Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), which represents foreign drug makers in India, said, ‘we strongly believe that this move will be a retrograde step in the financial reforms process of the country and would adversely affect the foreign investment not only in the pharmaceuticals sector in India but possibly far beyond it.’

Tapan Ray, director general of OPPI said, ‘Policy decisions should be always be based on facts and not on apprehensions.’ The OPPI had submitted a letter to ministry in this regard. However, on the other hand, the domestic pharma industry is in fears that continuation of 100% automatic approval policy will be perceived by the overseas investors as the government’s endorsement of takeovers by them.

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