Post engaging with the global and local medical device companies and assessing their claims of manufacturing, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) released the Global Tender Enquiry (GTE) exemption list on Friday, June 28.
Speaking on this initiative of the government, Pavan Choudary, Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said, “This is a path-breaking effort by the government towards equitable policy-making, spanning the crucial last mile which was uncovered so far. This exercise has levelled the playing field and its ultimate beneficiary will be the patient who will have continued access to quality products till reliable import substitutes are available, and the nation because such a system of checks and balances will not allow sub-par product launches to tar our reputation as a reliable manufacturing destination. This reputation will assist our growing exports and the foreign investor on seeing that the government staff is taking such pains to ensure policy-making is fair will also be encouraged”.
After a thorough review exercise spanning over 2 days, the committee chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and consisting of representatives from DoP, CDSCO, DGHS and AIIMS reviewed the claims of all cohorts. The Department of Pharmaceuticals invited both global and domestic manufacturers to provide supporting documents and justifications to review and finalise the GTE exemption list. More than 100 representatives from both global and domestic MediTech companies participated in the meeting and presented the substantiations of their claims.
Pavan Choudary adds, “A prima facie review of the list shows that all stakeholders have had some claims of theirs shot down. This was natural to happen due to the irreproachable jury of users and experts. But must say, that to the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of any government going to this painstaking extent to serve justice to the patient or the industry.”