PhD Chambers organise PharmaMED HD 2017 to identify bottlenecks in health sector

New Delhi : PHD Chamber in association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India is organizing 5th Annual Conference of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices & Health Care Delivery i.e PharmaMed HD 2017

The objective of the seminar were to identify bottlenecks in the growth of the Pharma, Medical Devices and the Healthcare delivery sectors esp. in wake of increase in regulatory and licensing requirements and Pricing and Regulatory Issues of the Pharma Industry and also discuss the gaps in the healthcare delivery and discuss and make recommendations on bridging the same for effective and broad-based delivery.

Mr. Nishant V. Berlia, Chairman, Health Committee, PHD Chamber said that the Indian healthcare is experiencing a new wave of opportunity. Providers are reinventing existing delivery models to bring healthcare closer to the patient. The following emerging trends are changing the course of the industry. The change in the government’s role from provider to payer has expanded the financial risk protection coverage to the marginalised, the private sector partnerships through health PPPs are gradually gaining acceptance, thereby improving access to care. The global medical device industry has experienced significant growth over the last five years and is expected to continue, reaching approximately US $302 billion in 2017 with a CAGR of 6.1% during six years (2011-2017).

Mr. Himanshu Baid, Co-Chairman, Health Committee, PHD Chamber said the Indian pharmaceuticals market is third largest in terms of volume and Fourteenth largest in terms of value in the world. The country's pharmaceutical industry expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4 per cent in 2013 to reach around US$ 30 billion in 2015 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 23.9 per cent to US$ 55 billion by 2020. In terms of value, exports of pharmaceutical products from India increased at a CAGR of 26.1 per cent to US$ 10.1 billion during FY06–13.

National Health Policy 2017 is sensible and comprehensive. Significantly, the policy takes a holistic view of the health system and achieving better outcomes across elements of access, cost and quality all closely inter-related. The policy looks to increase access to care by expanding coverage to the underprivileged and under-served and focuses on primary healthcare packages with geriatric, palliative and rehabilitative services. the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision for ‘Make in India,’ it is high time we look into the nuances and challenges of the industry so as to suggest as to how better regulate the industry with a focus on boosting Indian Manufacturing and R & D. There is also a need to move towards a more capitated model which limits costs and improves outcomes by bringing in proven concepts like moving away from “fee for service” to “paying for performance”. Besides, a mechanism to procure products and services from the private sector in an optimal manner that balances efficiency with quality is required.

Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India said that the size of healthcare industry would be scaling up at US$280 billion by 2020 from current estimated level of about US$100 billion with new National Health Policy being in place which incentivizes the health industry in general both in public and private domain as the government would spend 2.5% of GDP on Health up from 1% which will grow the Indian Healthcare Industry.

Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India said that the medical device industry would also witness phenomenal growth with its flagship programme of Make in India. It is estimated that the medical device industry would double its growth prospects and reach an estimated level of US$ 6 billion from current level of little over US$3 billion”. The Minister promised several policy initiatives that would gradually be added on to policy documentation relating to health sector as the government is committed to provide health for all and in this direction it has already altered the deadline for elimination of tuber-clauses which was earlier set at 2030 to 2025 which shows the pace with which the NDA government would fulfill its health targets.

Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director-Health Committee, PHD Chamber thanked Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India for gracing the occasion and inaugurating the 5th Annual Conference: PharmaMed HD 2017-Drug, Devices & Delivery- A 360 degree approach. He said the Conference will surely dwell upon certain issues related to ease of doing business in Healthcare sector, and we should try and work towards the solutions for the same in order to minimize the challenge with the support and proactive approach of whole Healthcare Fraternity. He also thanked all the delegates for sparing their time and being presented for the conference. The industry should also work for skilling of Pharma sectors for the development of the Pharma industry, This was also further supported by Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India.

Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry Of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India, addressed the delegates and also assured industry that inadvertent duty structure for healthcare is being corrected with each passing day and such anomalies would continue be addressed by the government until eliminated.

The conference was also addressed by other eminent speakers Deputy Drug Controller of India, Ms. Swati Srivastava; Vice President, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mr. Azadar Khan; Principal Advisor, Indian Medical Association, Dr. N V Kamat, Principal Advisor, Indian Medical Association & Former Director, Health Services, Govt. of NCT Delhi, Mr. Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AIMED, Mr. Nishant V. Berlia, Chairman, Health Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. Himanshu Baid, Co-Chairman, Health Committee, PHD Chamber, & Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director-Health Committee, PHD Chamber.