The Centre is considering a comprehensive health insurance scheme to cover about 25 per cent of India's poor, who are below the poverty line.
"We will introduce a health insurance plan for the poor under the new comprehensive drug policy that is being discussed," Sawant Reddy, secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India, said in Hyderabad on Thursday.
In her keynote address at 'India-Africa, ASEAN and GCC Pharma & Health Conference', Reddy said a right atmosphere for a vibrant pharma industry would be created through a new drug policy.
A special access programme for anti-cancer and HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) drugs was being worked out to help pharma companies involved in the development of these drugs, she said.
"We are working on a host of industry-friendly measures like interest subsidy for funding of research, approval of concurrent clinical trials in India and abroad for some category of drugs," Reddy said.
An inter-ministerial committee was working on providing legal protection for data related to pharma and biotech research, she added.
Indian pharma industry, now valued at $8.5 billion, would touch $25 billion mark in the next five years in all probability, she said.
The MRP on drugs and medicines would be made inclusive of local taxes.
EVKS Elangovan, Minister of State for Commerce and industry, Govt of India asked the participants of the international meet to prepare a road map for rapid growth of pharma industry in the region through joint ventures.
"India has a lot to offer to the international community on pharma and healthcare sectors," he added.
Industry and government representative from over 30 countries will have brain-storming sessions on industry and research related aspects in the two-day meet.
The meet is being jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Pharmexcil.
