Though the drug production has increased from Rs 10 crore to Rs 7000 crore in the last five decades, the potential created by this development has failed to deliver the goods to a majority of the people, says author Anant Phadke, calling for framing of a rational drug policy by the Government.While Crocin is available under dozens of brand names, there are more than 262 vitamin B complex, 244 multi-vitamin C preparations and over 126 cough syrups available at drug stores, according to `Drug Supply and Use'.On the other hand, there is a continuous shortfall in production of essential drugs like penicillin, anti-TB and anti-leprosy drugs, says Phadke, the co-ordinator of the National Drug Policy Cell of the Medico-Friend Circle, Pune.

``As thedrug companies are profit oriented, they go on under-producing life-saving drugs and over-producing those drugs where the margins are high, resulting in shortfall of essential drugs and proliferation of unessential, irrational combinations in fancy packages and under thousands of bizarre brand names,''he says.

Focusing on the rationality of drug production and use at the national and district level, Phadke says assessing the drug needs of the people, defining the essential drugs and regulating the promotional activities of drug companies can help in creating a favourable framework for the Indian drug industry.

The Government had in 1979 divided the drugs in four categories on the basis of profit on cost of productionlife saving drugs (40 per cent mark up), essential drugs (55 per cent), unessential (75 per cent) and the rest (no price control). But nothing much could be achieved by this drug price control order, as the industry is interested only in drugs which earn them higher profits.

Though he blamesthe drug industry for the exploitative nature of production, the doctors, both qualified and unqualified, are equally responsible for such a scenario, he rues. ``...The doctors have been a party to this due to their apathy, ignorance and in some cases, outright indulgence to it,'' he says.

This irrationality also extends to ayurvedic drugs, where the manufacturers neither follow the tedious processes nor use ``whole plants. Instead chemicals are used which change the entire preparation,'' Phadke says.Leaving aside the problem of standardisation of ayurvedic formulations, Phadke says the main question isis it correct to allow commercial production of any of the ancient ayurvedic formulae without testing their safety and efficacy? Chemists and druggists also play a part in this irrational use of drugs, as they all sell drugs to patients without prescription, he says.

Under pressure from various action groups, the Government did come out with a list of essential drugs around 3 years ago. ``But what isneeded is a graded essential drugs list that indicates the drugs that should be available at various levels of health care - community health workers, primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care,''Phadke states.