By PTI

New Delhi: The government is receiving complaints from bulk drug manufacturers that they are being seriously affected because of low-cost drug imports from China.

“The Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association has informed that especially because of low value of import of drugs from China, Indian manufacturers like Ampicillin and Paracetamol have been seriously affected,” Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers B K Handique told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

“The Chinese bulk drugs are cheaper when compared to Indian products because of economies of scale, lower tariffs of power and tax structure,” he told the House.

However, the Directorate-General Anti-Dumping has been initiating proceedings, levying anti-dumping duty whenever required, he said.

In reply to another query Handique said state-run drug manufacturing like IDPL, Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited and Orissa Drugs and Chemicals Limited were performing below their installed capacity.

However, the government has approved revival plans of HAL and BCPL while plans were afoot to revive IDPL and later ODCL, the minister said, adding that a committee constituted to explore the revival of Bengal Immunity Limited has submitted its report.

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals is in talks with the Planning Commission for setting up institutes like National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in various parts of the country at a cost of Rs 200 crore each.