Govt likely to clarify pharma FDI policy soon

25 Jun 2013 Evaluate

The government is expected to clarify the policy on foreign direct investments (FDI) in the pharmaceuticals sector soon. The issue, which has been haunting the pharma sector for a long time is expected to be resolved soon as the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), along with the health ministry and department of pharmaceuticals likely to meet on July 10 to clarify the matter. Further, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is also scheduled to take up 10 investment proposals for the sector during its forthcoming meeting on July 5.   

Last year the government had made a distinction between greenfield and brownfield projects ones following fears that Indians will be denied cheap medicines if multinational continued to buy big companies. However, in May, DIPP, the nodal ministry for the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, asked FIPB not to clear any of the pharma sector proposals on concerns over ownership and production of essential medicines. Now, the government has decided to introduce safeguards to ensure that MNCs acquiring domestic firms will not stop producing essential drugs.

Presently, India permits 100 per cent FDI in pharmaceutical sector through automatic approval route in the new projects but the foreign investment in the existing pharmaceutical companies are allowed only through FIPB's approval. There are too many pharma proposals pending with the FIPB as several global pharma companies are looking to buy stake in Indian firms.

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