Govt provides Rs 315 cr aid to public sector drug firms

NEW DELHI: The government has provided Rs 315 crore assistance to three loss-making public sector drug companies over a period of three years from 2004-05 fiscal to 2006-07 fiscal.

Government has provided assistance of Rs 169 crore, Rs 138 crore and Rs 7.95 crore to public sector Hindustan Antibiotic Ltd, Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd respectively in last three fiscal, Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers B K Handique informed Lok Sabha on Thursday.

While replying a written query the minister said, the drug manufactured by the three public sector drug companies include bulk drugs such as anti-malarial, anti-snake venom, anti-inflammatory, Benzanthine Penicillin etc.

Government has also approved preferential purchase of 102 medicines manufactured by Pharma Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) and their subsidiaries to help in revival of sick Pharma PSEs, the minister said, while adding state governments are also required to purchase these 102 medicines under health programmes funded by the central government.