Don’t sell out to multinationals, Azad urges pharma firms

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulam Nabi Azad has promised to launch an inter-ministry task force to solve the problems faced by Indian pharmaceutical in a move to make an environment conducive to their growth.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulam Nabi Azad has promised to launch an inter-ministry task force to solve the problems faced by Indian pharmaceutical in a move to make an environment conducive to their growth.

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This comes after news of a few companies selling out to multinationals.

“I’m happy to hear that none of the companies were interested in selling their business to multinationals,” said Azad after the meeting with Indian pharmaceutical companies on Saturday. “We cannot tell companies what they should or should not do, we can only issue advisories,” he added.

Azad also stressed on the need to provide basic heath care drugs at an affordable price to the poor.

Heads of major pharmaceutical companies such as Cadila Healthcare, Wockhardt, Piramal Healthcare, Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma, Torrent Group and Sun Pharma attended the meeting.

Speaking to the press, Azad urged the people of the city to take necessary precautions and maintain hygiene in water storage tanks to avoid the breeding of dengue and malaria.