D. No. 532/Secy(Pharma)/2020 ANA GST Sh. SB. aren = : sitaa fear Dr. P. D. Vaghela Government of India Secretary Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers Department of Pharmaceuticals Dated 9" April, 2020 Dear Sty | would like to bring to your knowledge the status of working of pharma and medical device industry during the lockdown period. As per the feedback received from various pharma and medical device associations, the manufacturing units are working, on an average, at only 20 -30 % capacity during the lockdown. There are many factors that have contributed to this situation. Some of which are mentioned below: 1. Reverse migration of contractual labourers to their native places. 2. Non reporting for work by a significant proportion of local work force due to a host of factors such as fear of catching infection, pressure from the family, pressure from the local community and announcement by the government of assured wages during the lockdown period even if they do not report for work. 3. Various restrictions imposed by local administration such as limiting the number of workers allowed to work and/or restricting the time for production etc. 4, Substantially reduced availability of transportation and logistics services Closure of ancillary industries such as packaging material, briquettes for fuel. etc. as these are not considered essential by the local administration and the police despite instructions issued by the Department of Home Affairs. 6. Non availability of Courier Services especially in tier 1 and tier 2 cities 7. Non availability of spare parts If the production does not reach the pre lockdown level soon, it could lead to shortages of medicine and medical devices in the coming weeks. Fifty percent of India’s production is exported. Since produces get better price in the export markets than the domestic market, it could lead to dis-propionate shortages in the domestic market. In order to prevent this avoidable situation, Contd./- wre waa, St were ware we, ag fee - 110001It is suggested that suitable effective measures be taken in the right earnest. ‘Some of which are being suggested here : Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, . the Pharma and Medical Device industry should be allowed to ferry back their contractual labourers from their native places and also the labourers should be allowed to travel back to join their places of work. A driver in possession of driving license of a commercial vehicle should be allowed to move with or without his vehicle. The commercial driving license in itself should be treated as a Pass during the lockdown. This is essential as many drivers, during lockdown, have left their vehicles stranded on highways/dhabas etc. and have returned to their native places. Unless they are allowed to reach their vehicles, those vehicles will be left stranded and thus would be out of circulation. . Fear of ill treatment by the police, stoppage of vehicles on the borders (State/District/City), lack of food and diesel on the routes have been cited as major factors contributing to unwillingness of drivers to ply vehicles during the lockdown. There is a dire need to not only address the apprehensions of these drivers but also to motivate/incentivize (Insurance etc.) them. A strategy needs to be made and necessary instructions issued to mitigate these factors. . State and District Authorities need to be sensitized to the need of bringing back the production of Pharma and Medical Device Industry to its pre lockdown level and they need to be directed to interact with the associations of Pharma and Medical Device Manufacturers in order to understand and resolve their issues proactively. . Courier services need to be made fully functional at their pre-lockdown level; not only in metro cities but also in tier 1 and tier 2 cities. This is crucial in ensuring that movement of medicines and medical devices, specially from C&F to stockiest /distributors/retailers, is not adversely affected during the lockdown. with Regarrs Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi