With speculations rife that the country may face medicine shortage in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, worried people are thronging pharmacies to stock up, particularly diabetes and hypertension drugs in addition to others. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has, therefore, requested the government to locally produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) which is mostly imported. It wants approvals for new investments fast-tracked and proposed that blanket environment permission be provided to manufacture any API on submission of self-certification to comply with pollution load requirement.

CII said in a statement on Thursday that the COVID-19 outbreak could lead to a significant shortage of supply in the medical technology sector, especially for critical medicines and medical devices such as thermometers, nebulizers, glucometers, etc. "The medical devices market too is heavily import-dependent, at around 70-80 per cent, with imaging equipment (CT & MRI scanners), cardiac stents, orthopaedic implants, glucometers, and critical care equipment cornering a large share. Many raw materials and components are imported from China," said a statement released by CII media head, Mohan Gawde, on Thursday.