Centre ends monopoly over opium-based life-saving drugs

Neemuch, MP, Aug 2 (UNI) The Centre has ended its monopoly over manufacture of opium-based life-saving drugs and decided to issue licenses to two private-sector Indian pharmaceutical companies, official sources said.

Tenders have been invited and the union finance ministry notice clearly stated that the companies would be provided licenses for processing a maximum of 100 tonnes opium each.

Until now, such life-saving drugs were being manufactured at alkaloid factories located here and at Uttar Pradesh's Gazipur and controlled by the union finance ministry.

Government factories were unable to meet the annual domestic demand for 25 tonnes codeine phosphate and 14 tonnes had to be imported. On the other hand, declining opium export resulted in a stock exceeding 1,700 tonnes.

In 2003-04, the Centre's NDA government amended the NDPS Act incorporating a provision for licenses to the private sector but no solid step was taken towards implementation.

UNI XC-AC 1717