Indian pharma sector 3rd largest globally, valued at $50 bn in  FY 2023-24: Centre

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) India’s pharma industry is considered to be the world’s third largest by volume, and in FY 2023-24 the pharmaceutical market has been valued at $50 billion, said Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha Patel said that in FY 2023-24, the pharmaceutical market’s domestic consumption value was at $23.5 billion, and exports were valued at $26.5 billion.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry has a strong presence at the global level. It is also the 14th in terms of value of production with an extremely diversified product base covering generic drugs, bulk drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, biosimilars, and biologics.

“According to National Accounts Statistics 2024, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, total output for industry that is, pharmaceuticals, medicinal and botanical products is Rs. 4,56,246 crores for FY 2022-23 at constant prices, of which value added is Rs. 1,75,583 crores. 9,25,811 number of persons are engaged in Pharmaceuticals, medicinal and botanical products industry during FY 2022-23,” Patel said.

Meanwhile, the MoS also informed that the Department of Pharmaceuticals has set up seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) as institutes of national importance. These institutes impart postgraduate and doctorate education, as well as conduct high-end research in various pharma specialisations.

Further, the Department has also framed a national policy to boost research, development, and innovation in pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

It is also aimed at creating an ecosystem for innovation in the sector in order for India to become a leader in drug discovery and innovative medical devices through incubating an entrepreneurial environment.

–IANS

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36.16 cr Ayushman Cards created under PMJAY Scheme: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) About 36.16 crore Ayushman Cards have been created for beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), said the Union government on Tuesday.

“As per the PMJAY dashboard, as of December 12, 36.16 crore Ayushman Cards have been created for such beneficiaries. Of these, 29.87 Crore cards have been created for the beneficiaries residing in rural areas,” the MoS said. said Union Minister of State (MoS) for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Launched in 2018, PMJAY provides financial protection to deprived rural families. It also identifies occupational categories of urban workers’ families.

The flagship scheme “offers a benefit cover of Rs 5,00,000 per family per year (on a family floater basis). Services include a range of procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician’s fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU charges, etc,” Jadhav said.

Further, he also listed the achievements made under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — aimed to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country.

“ABDM intends to make healthcare more transparent, secure, inclusive, accessible, timely delivery, and most importantly citizen-centric,” Jadhav said.

ABDM comprises key registries intended through building registries such as Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), healthcare professional registry (HPR), health facility registry (HFR), and drug registry.

Under the scheme, “a total of more than 71.16 Crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) have been created, till December 10,” the MoS said, adding that “around 45.99 Crore health records have been linked with ABHA”.

“Around 3.54 lakh health facilities have been registered on the health facility registry (HFR), and about 5.37 lakh healthcare professionals have been registered on the healthcare professional registry (HPR),” he noted.

Jadhav also informed on significant targets achieved under the National Health Policy.

“Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) reduced from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2017-2019 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20 (against a target of 100 by year 2020),” the MoS said.

“Infant Mortality Rate reduced from 32 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 (against a target of 28 by the year 2019) and Total Fertility Rate is reduced from 2.2 in 2015-16 as per NFHS-4 to 2.0 in 2019-21 as per NFHS-5 (against a target of 2.1 by year 2025)”, he added.

Separately, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel informed that more than 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated in all phases of Mission Indradhanush conducted so far.

“Mission Indradhanush is a special catch-up vaccination campaign under the Universal Immunisation Programme, conducted in areas of low immunisation coverage to vaccinate left out and dropped out children and pregnant women,” Patel said, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. She informed that 11 types of vaccines are provided under the programme.

–IANS

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Integrate yoga in national diabetes prevention policies: Dr. Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) Integrating yoga in national diabetes prevention policies may be key to preventing the onset of the blood sugar condition among people with prediabetes, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, on Friday.

He said this while releasing a study, by the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI), that underscored the transformative potential of yoga in the prevention of Type-2 diabetes.

The study, published in the journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, showed that a 40-minute daily yoga routine, incorporating select asanas and pranayama, along with standard lifestyle interventions, can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by approximately 40 per cent.

“These results surpass the outcomes of existing diabetes prevention strategies in the country,” said the researchers.

With over 101 million people currently living with diabetes and another 136 million in the prediabetic stage, the study’s evidence-based approach could play a pivotal role in addressing the growing epidemic, said Singh, who is also a Professor of Medicine, and a renowned Diabetologist.

The study was conducted over three years across five centers in India and involved nearly 1,000 prediabetic individuals.

The team evaluated the results of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) which achieved a 28 per cent risk reduction through lifestyle changes, and another trial that combined lifestyle measures with stepwise medication (metformin) that reported a 32 per cent reduction.

“The efficacy of yoga in this study outperformed both, showcasing its superiority as a standalone preventive measure,” said the researchers.

“The findings are a potential ‘game changer’ for India’s healthcare system…and reaffirms the relevance of yoga, an ancient Indian practice, in tackling modern health challenges,” Singh said.

“This study stands out as the first well-designed, long-term trial to scientifically validate yoga’s effectiveness in preventing diabetes,” he said while urging the need to “integrate yoga into national diabetes prevention policies to achieve widespread public health benefits”.

The study was conducted by a group of eminent RSSDI members including Prof S.V. Madhu, Head of Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University College of Medical Sciences New Delhi, Prof H.B. Chandalia, Former Head at Grant Medical College Mumbai and presently Head Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre, Mumbai, Dr Arvind Gupta, Manilek Research Centre Jaipur and others.

–IANS

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