India needs to reduce the controls on producing raw materials for the pharmaceutal industry, an Assocham study said on Friday.
Over 60-70 per cent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are currently being imported from China, since the ingredients are cheaper. This leads to a massive decline in domestic production, Umang Chatutvedi, Global Head (Corporate Affairs), Ranbaxy, said.
Further, this dependence has a strong relation to international relations, the study said, while adding, since "any deterioration in relationships with China can potentially result in severe shortages in the supply of essential drugs to the country."