The government on Monday said that multinational companies (MNCs) are campaigning against domestic pharmaceuticals industry as their interests were getting impacted due to increasing global presence of Indian firms in the generic segment.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said: "A concerted campaign against India pharma industry has been launched by MNCs whose interests are getting adversely impacted due to increasing global presence of India pharma companies, especially in the generic segment."
He said the Indian pharma industry is vigilant against such campaign.
"A mission to promote Indian generic drugs has been launched in Africa to sensitise the concerned health authorities about generic drugs from India being quality drugs at par with their patented alternatives and available at very reasonable cost," Scindia added.
Replying to another query, the minister said six HIV patent applications of the United States-based companies Gilead Sciences and Abbott Laboratories have been rejected.
As a result, there is no monopoly right now over the production of these drugs in India, he added.
