Baseless allegations

Sir,

 This is with reference to an article in your paper, dated January 10, 2015, headlined ‘MNCs play proxy war against Indian generics’.  This article alleges that MNC pharma companies are using the US Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) to fight a proxy war against Indian generics companies! The author, Dr Gopal Dabade, makes several allegations and statements that have no basis.  I write to you on behalf of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), which represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies in India.

While the author has mentioned that only Indian generic companies have received warning letters from the FDA, I’d like to point out that warnings are also received by MNC companies from time to time!  Responsible healthcare needs to become a norm if India aspires to remain ‘pharmacy to the world.’ To suggest that the research-based pharmaceutical companies are behind the USFDA warning letters to Indian companies is preposterous. We do not see generics companies as opponents and there is no war! In fact, many of our members have generics businesses in addition to licensing arrangements with Indian generics companies.

With regard to the accusation that research-based pharma companies have been trying to prevent India from using Compulsory Licensing.  All that we ask is that a thoughtful assessment of the policies and decisions relating to Compulsory Licenses be made, on a case-by-case basis.  We also ask that any flexibility in the law be used judiciously, only for humanitarian non-commercial use, in treating diseases which fall in the category of epidemic or communicable diseases and taking into account relevant factors. Ongoing innovation is critical to meeting patients’ increasing health needs and particularly relevant in the context of evolving healthcare systems around the world.

We ask you to please publish clarification in your newspaper, to present your readers with a more accurate picture and a fair perspective.

Sincerely,

Ranjana Smetacek

Director General
Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India
Mumbai