Auto Disable Syringes : Hindustan Medical Devices (HMD) Tie Ups With Pharma Multinationals

Hindustan Medical Devices (HMD), the lone domestic manufacturer of auto disable (AD) syringes, is currently on a deal signing spree with many of the pharma multinationals and some of the domestic pharma companies for supply of these syringes. The pharma companies procure these syringes for free supply along with their injections as part of their campaign to promote safe injection practices.

Under the agreements, HMD is to supply its 0.5 ml AD syringes, named Kojak Selinge, in large numbers.

HMD is the first and only company in the world so far to get the WHO approval for the 0.5 ml AD immunisation syringes under the new product qualification system (PQS) of the UN body. The approval enables the company to bid for supply contracts with a host of UN and multilateral agencies. Besides the 0.5 ml AD syringes, the company also manufactures AD syringes in 2 ml, 5ml, and 10 ml curative class.

The company, which has a turnover of about Rs 225 crore, has already kicked off a capacity expansion programme in anticipation of huge export orders for this product. The company which has seven plants just outside Delhi with a total capacity of 120 million AD syringes pieces per annum, will doubling its capacity.

"We have planned a Rs 100 crore capital expenditure programme which will take the capacity to 240 million pieces," HMD Jt MD Rajiv Nath said.

Mr Nath said the company has already distributed 16 million AD syringes across Africa under the US REPFAR (The President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief).

(Ref : Economic Times Dated February 16, 2005)

US Pharmacopeia Sets Up India Site

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) announced setting up its India site, consisting of its business operations and laboratories which will offer USP's broad range of Pharmacopeia services to Pharma companies in India and neighbouring countries. The Indian arm will be the first USP operations outside the US. An official release said the USP-India site will support the activities of Indian and regional constituencies including the Indian Pharmacopeia to promote manufacture of quality products globally.

(Ref : Economic Times Dated February 11, 2005)