In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Chemical and Fertilizer Minister, D.V. Sadananda Gowda on March 20, 2020 said that sufficient stock of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, API is available in the country for manufacturing of medicines.
He also said that department of Pharmaceuticals has constituted an inter-departmental Committee under the chairmanship of Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, CDSCO to address the drug security in the country in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in China.
In 2016-17, China constituted 66.69 per cent ($1826.34 million or ₹13,107 crore) of all bulk drugs and drug intermediates India imported.
What is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)?
An API is one one the core of the biologically active component or core of a drug product (e.g. tablet, capsule). For example, acetaminophen or paracetamol is the chief therapeutic entity in Aspirin or Crocin brand of drug.
All medicines are made up of two core components: the API, which is the central ingredient, and the excipient, the substances other than the drug that helps deliver the medication to your system.
If the API is a solid and the drug is required to have a liquid dosage form, such as a cough syrup, then the excipients would be the liquids that are used to formulate the syrup.
References
- Science Daily (Understanding active pharmaceutical ingredients),
- Verywellhealth-What Is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)
- Newsonair-Govt says sufficient stock of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient is available in country for manufacturing of medicines.
- Businessline-India’s increased dependence on Chinese APIs causing concern.
