Reining in medicine prices despite war impact on pharma inputs: Official

A senior official in India’s Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Thursday said there has been no major increase in the prices of pharmaceutical drugs despite the war in West Asia impacting global supply chains of certain essential inputs, particularly solvents and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The Government of India has taken note of the disruptions and devising strategies to meet the challenges, Joint Secretary Satyaprakash T. L. said, adding propylene, ammonia and methanol were the key solvents the pharmaceutical industry requires. Butanol is needed in smaller quantities for certain antibiotics.

Propylene remains the most critical input since it is used in Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and Isobutyl Benzene production, which are used in medicines such as Ibuprofen. A significant share of propylene supply is being met through BPCL’s Kochi and Mumbai refineries and supplied to major manufacturers of Isopropyl Alcohol.