Industry opposes 'vegetarian' capsules

A section of the pharmaceutical industry has opposed the health ministry’s plan to replace the gelatin-based medicine capsules with those made out of cellulose, simply because the former comes from animal products whereas the latter is of plant origin.

Last month, the health ministry set up an expert panel to review the technical issues related to the large-scale replacement of gelatin-based capsules with cellulose-based ones.

“It is not prudent to enter the vegetarian and non-vegetarian debate in this matter. The consumption of medicine is more curative than out of personal choice,” said Vivek Seigell, director of the Punjab, Haryana, Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Almost 95% of the gelatine manufactured in India is produced by the PHDCCI members.

The expert panel chaired by C K Kokate, vice chancellor of KLE University, Belagavi, was set up by the health ministry, notwithstanding the proposal's rejection by a technical panel and a negative judgement from the Supreme Court.

In May 2016, the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) under the health ministry ruled against distinguishing the drugs encapsulated in gelatine or cellulose shells by putting a red or green dot, respectively, on the wrapper.

“Unlike food, drugs are not taken by choice, but are prescribed by the doctors to save lives. Marking them vegetarian or non-vegetarian origin is not desirable,” the Drug Technical Advisory Board had stated. After the NDA government came to power in May 2014, the health ministry received the proposal, which was forwarded to the DTAB for an examination.