No final view on Katoch panel recommendations: Government

NEW DELHI: Government is yet to take a final view on implementation of recommendations of the Katoch Committee which was formed to suggest ways to reduce bulk drug imports from China, Parliament was informed today.

"No final view has been taken about implementation of Katoch Committee recommendations yet," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L Mandaviya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The government had set up a committee of secretaries, headed by Secretary, Health Research, V M Katoch to suggest ways to reduce dependence on bulk drug imports from China.

In a separate reply, Mandaviya said the Indian pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a robust growth.

"In the beginning of the 11th plan in 2007 it stood at around Rs 71,000 crore which has now risen to around Rs 2 lakh crore as per data of Pharmatrac and Pharmexcil up to 2015-16," the minister said.