Hathi Committee 1975

This article explains about the impact of the Hathi Committee 1975 on India’s drug policy, pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory framework.

Purpose of Hathi Committee 1975:

• The Hathi Committee, led by Justice Hathi, was established to assess the pharmaceutical industry in India and recommend measures to make drugs affordable and accessible.

Objectives of Hathi Committee 1975:

• Evaluate the pharmaceutical industry’s role in providing essential medicines.
• Assess the pricing, production, and availability of medicines.
• Recommend policies to promote self-sufficiency in drug manufacturing.

Findings:

• India relied heavily on imports for essential drugs and raw materials.
• Drug prices were high, making them inaccessible to the poor.
• Foreign multinational corporations dominated the pharmaceutical industry, leading to high prices and limited local growth.

Recommendations:

1. Establish Public Sector Pharmaceutical Enterprises to ensure drug availability at affordable prices.
2. Encourage indigenous production of raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
3. Promote price control measures to regulate drug prices.
4. Strengthen regulatory frameworks to enforce quality control.
5. Reduce dependence on multinational companies and boost domestic production.

Outcome:

• Led to the establishment of public sector enterprises like IDPL (Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited).
• Implementation of Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) to regulate drug prices.
• Increased focus on self-reliance in drug production.
• Strengthened legislation to regulate the pharmaceutical industry.

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