India is indispensable partner of US for pharmaceutical supply: US health secretary Xavier Becerra

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said on Friday. A top official of his country will be visiting India very soon to address the issue of shortage of some crucial drugs including those for cancer in the US, he said. «We have a very strong and dependent relationship with India when it comes to pharmaceuticals.

We depend on India, India depends on us and together we can both thrive when it comes to making sure medicines are available not just to our people but to the world,» Becerra told reporters here. He was in Gandhinagar to take part in the G20 Health Ministers' Meeting as well as bilateral meetings with other countries. The US is experiencing disruptions in the supply of some cancer drugs, he said.

When asked if he has any plans to meet Indian officials or industry leaders to address the shortage of cancer drugs, Becerra said that is the reason why US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Commissioner Robert Califf will be visiting India soon. «Because we don't want to see any shortage in supply of any medicines. There have been disruptions in the supply chain for some of the drugs for cancer.

India is such an indispensable partner in helping America to have the pharmaceuticals that it needs,» Becerra said. The US is eyeing to increase the domestic capacity for the production of such crucial drugs, but still, it will not be enough, he said. «Strong partners like India make it possible for us to provide our people with the medicines that they need,» he said.