BPO boom 'drives'quality control outsourcing in pharma sector

Chennai, Dec 3 (UNI) After the BPO boom, Global outsourcing of quality control testing services is presently the buzz word in the Pharma Industry.

According to Mr Beat In-Albon, Vice President of the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS Life Science Services, Geneva, the Asia--India and China-- were the preferred destinations for Pharma companies in US and Europe for quality control testing of their products, including drugs.

''SGS India Private Limited and SGS Life Science Services India Limited are buoyed by this growing trend. Within two years of its inception at the Ticel Biopark here, SGS had got the US FDA Inspection done this year and had received the Good Laboratory Practices award last month,'' he said talking to newspersons here.

He said this international recognition would bring in more clientele into the SGS fold as Pharma companies, as part of cost-cutting exercises, were ready to outsource their products for testing, rather than making investments in their own facility.

''Instead of investing in in-house equipment for having this quality testing laboratory, they have now started outsourcing it.

The main reason is that the Pharma companies are facing economic pressure,'' he said adding, ''The other aspect is that they find outsourcing cost effective''.

He said about 85 per cent of the pharma companies were turning to India and China as the costs were cheaper when compared to the rates in Europe and US.

Ready to tap this growing market, SGS, which has about 100 clients in its fold, including top five International Pharma companies, was also willing to expand its facility here and make investments depending on the customer needs.

Dr V Meenakumari, Business Development Manager, India, West Asia and Africa, SGS India, was also present, said the facility at present, had a 45-strong technical staff and had the capacity to accommodate upto 75 of them.

''Based on the requirements, we will consider expanding the facility with more investment'', she added.

UNI