MUMBAI: Amid growing tension with the US over Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)-related issues, pharma major Cipla said free competition, zero monopoly in healthcare and adoption of a pragmatic IPR policy will aid growth of pharma sector.
It may be noted that pharma exports registered the slowest growth in at least 15 years at 1.2 per cent to $14.84 billion last fiscal.
“We have always believed that free competition is the only way to ensure fair prices and better availability of drugs. We strongly believe that there should be no monopolies in healthcare; and in that context, India should adopt a pragmatic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy including in-licensing within the present framework of our international obligations,” Y K Hamied, Chairman, Cipla said in the company’s annual report 2013-14.
He added that India must also examine the monopoly position of drugs and build safeguards in order to prevent monopoly.
“Many countries such as Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have already introduced compulsory licensing provisions. The Republic of South Africa is seriously reconsidering their position on IPR in order to promote affordable healthcare,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cipla has decided to focus on key markets this fiscal including strengthening its position in India and South Africa and building a front-end presence in select international markets. “The focus will be on our European respiratory launches and proactive exploration of partnership opportunities to monetise our assets. We will continue to invest in R&D,” said Subhanu Saxena, MD of Cipla.
The company will also look to rationalise its portfolio and simplify business but will enhance field force productivity, drive procurement effectiveness, cut waste and manage costs.
In FY 14, the company has scaled up its anti-cancer formulations facility at Goa besides setting an additional capacity for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients at Patalganga and Kurkumbh in Maharashtra. It has also scaled up its anti-cancer formulations facility at Goa.