Safeguarding India’s ‘Pharmacy To The World’: Sudhansh Pant’s Top Priority As Health Secretary
New Delhi, 2nd August 2023: Sudhansh Pant, the new Union health secretary, is widely described by his peers, colleagues, and former bosses as astute, sharp, diligent, and a problem solver. His unique background includes technical knowledge concerning the drugs and pharmaceutical industry, having previously served in the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Following a bureaucratic reshuffle by the central government in June, Pant, an IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, assumed the role of health secretary after Rajesh Bhushan’s departure. He holds an engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1991.
With general elections approaching in less than a year, Pant faces several significant challenges in his new position. One of his top priorities is safeguarding India’s reputation as the “pharmacy to the world” by addressing the issue of sub-standard and low-quality drugs. Additionally, he is expected to revamp the country’s apex health regulatory agency, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Several other pressing issues await Pant’s attention, including the regulation of e-pharmacies, sustaining the momentum and focus on healthcare in the post-Covid world, preparing India for future pandemics, and promoting research and innovation in healthcare. Furthermore, he must meet the ambitious deadline for the elimination of tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global deadline promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pant will also need to assess the progress of targets set by India’s National Health Policy, released over six years ago, which are currently lagging.
What makes Pant the ideal choice for the position, according to Dr VK Subburaj, former secretary of the department of pharmaceuticals, is his extensive experience in both pharma and health ministries, making him uniquely qualified for the role. Pant has demonstrated proficiency in handling crises, as evidenced by his pivotal role during the Covid-19 outbreak when he was called back to the health ministry for critical tasks.
Pant has also been credited with improving the quality of drugs under the Modi government’s flagship Jan Aushadhi scheme. He implemented WHO-GMP standards during his tenure as chairman of the governing council of the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI).
Throughout his career, Pant has held diverse assignments, ranging from mining, petroleum, housing, electricity, and pharma to health. He has served as chairman of various state corporations and departments.
Health experts and industry veterans believe Pant’s immediate challenge lies in ensuring the quality of medicines manufactured in India, following drug alerts by global health agencies. He will need to collaborate with the new Drug Controller General of India to maintain compliance with manufacturing norms.
Other critical challenges include making health and wellness centres operational and developing more services for non-communicable diseases. Securing sufficient funding for the health sector will require Pant’s negotiation skills with the Ministry of Finance.
Furthermore, Pant must address the regulatory aspects of e-pharmacies, finalize the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), and work towards achieving the targets set in India’s national health policy, which are currently falling behind.
Overall, Sudhansh Pant’s experience, problem-solving approach, and comprehensive knowledge of the pharma and health sectors make him an ideal choice for the role of Union health secretary. However, he will face significant hurdles in ensuring India’s healthcare system’s efficiency and efficacy, especially with the upcoming challenges and responsibilities.
