Madras HC deplores Chinese dependency on lifesaving medicines

<p style="font-weight: 400;">What would become of a nation that leaves the supply of its essential lifesaving medicines to the mercy of its competing neighbor, China, said Madras High Court Chief Justice N. Kirubakaran said while passing an order.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“India has emerged as a pioneer in pharmaceuticals. Yet, for the basic ingredients of medicine making, it is heavily dependent on imports from one single neighbor nation, viz., China. This dependency handicaps us in responding effectively to security and other breaches by the neighbor. It also makes our patients to more often contend with spurious and sub-standard drugs and placing them in a vulnerable prospect of going without medicines if tensions escalate between the two countries, especially after Galwan valley tussle,” Justice Kirubakaran remarked.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The judge was hearing a batch of pleas moved by Chennai-based Vinkem Labs, raising grievance over the lack of financial support from various banks.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Justice Kirubakaran observed that dependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) handicaps India in responding to security and other breaches by the communist country.</p>
According to the court, the economic advantage of importing APIs has led India to lose its scientific edge and self-reliance in APIs and India now thrives as a mere Finished Dosage Hub, that is, a country that imports its API requirements and bundles them into finished dosages.

At one stage, even the National Security Advisor (NSA) had cautioned the government on the national security dangers on account of this excess import dependence on a single nation, the court said.
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The high court observations came as it ordered to set up a five-member committee to ensure that the twin goals of enabling a private company Vinkem Labs Ltd to become a global player to earn foreign exchange for the country and also ensure self-reliance of India in cancer drugs.</p>
(With agency inputs).