Insights into the Indian Animal Healthcare Industry
INTRODUCTION
India is the largest producer of buffalo meat, the second largest producer of goat meat and the third largest egg producer globally.1 A large part of the Indian animal healthcare industry is focused on animal husbandry and livestock care. The animal healthcare industry in India is valued at USD 950 million and represents 2.5% of the global industry, which is projected to grow at a 6% compound annual growth rate.2
The animal healthcare industry has gradually evolved from preventive medications to productivity enhancement treatments and has finally adopted a combined approach that focuses on the overall healthcare of animals. The current industry can be segmented based on products, such as medicines, parasiticides and disinfectants, vaccines, medical devices, and nutritional supplements. Animal vaccines alone make up 17% of the animal healthcare industry which amounts to USD 170 million.3 Governmental schemes for animal healthcare and regulatory frameworks catering to the specialised needs of animal welfare are the reasons behind the development of the industry.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The regulatory framework for animal healthcare is dispersed and each part focuses on animal health in one form or the other. The important facets of this framework are highlighted below:
(a) The Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (Veterinary Act): This act governs veterinary practitioners in the country by establishing the standards of professional conduct and ethics for veterinarians, providing for the minimum qualifications for veterinarians and establishing state-level councils. Protection and preservation of animals, and prevention of diseases in animal and veterinary practice fall within the State List under the Constitution of India. While the Veterinary Act operates nationwide, some states have their respective laws governing the practice of a veterinarian.
(b) Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (D&C Act) and the Drugs Rules, 1945 (Drugs Rules): The D&C Act and the Drugs Rules regulate and approve the drugs that are to be manufactured, imported and marketed in India. The definition of “drugs” under the D&C Act includes drugs for the use of animals. The Drugs Rules lay down the detailed procedures that an entity in the animal healthcare industry needs to comply with for developing, conducting clinical trials and other testing, manufacturing, importing, labelling and marketing drugs, vaccines and medical devices for animals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is the authority that caters to the approval and licensing process for drugs under the Drugs Rules. A Veterinary Cell has been established by the CDSCO to especially cater to applications filed for approval and licensing of drugs for animals.
(c) Guidance for Industry Document for Veterinary Biologicals in India (Guidance): This Guidance was prepared by the Veterinary Cell in accordance with the D&C Act and the Drugs Rules. The Guidance provides a comprehensive report on the requirements for new drug approval, post-approval changes in biological products, stability tests for veterinary drugs, import registration and license, marketing authorisations, etc.4 The Guidance also provides checklists for submission of applications as required under the Drugs Rules.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
The government has introduced certain schemes and programmes for the better penetration and adoption of drugs and vaccinations for animals especially cattle at the grass-root level. The National Animal Disease Control Programme is a flagship scheme launched in 2019 that aims to control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by vaccinating the animals. The government under the scheme provides 100% of the funds for the implementation of the vaccination program.5
Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) is a portal that has enabled the creation of a digital architecture for providing access to animal health and data in real-time as well as monitoring the animal vaccination drives taking place across the country.
The animal healthcare industry has received a huge influx of funds in the last year, with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying receiving a proposal of USD 25 million from the G20 Pandemic Fund.6 The government showcased animal healthcare initiatives at the G20 health meeting, namely the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI) aimed to track diseases through large-scale surveillance and the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) aimed to strengthen the district laboratories across 75 districts, provide mobile veterinary units in high-risk areas, and upgrade dispensaries and hospitals along with training veterinarians and diagnostic professionals.7
CONCLUSION
The increase in zoonotic diseases i.e. diseases transmitted from animals to humans caused by microorganisms, like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, as well as the growing demand for livestock products pose a challenge to the Indian animal healthcare industry to focus on safe options for prevention of diseases as well as enhancement of productivity. While the industry players are highly investing in research and development, the regulatory framework needs to be flexible and robust to address the growing need for drugs and vaccines.
[1] Animal husbandry, Invest India, https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/food-processing/animal-husbandry. [2] Animal husbandry, Invest India, https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/food-processing/animal-husbandry. [3] Animal husbandry, Invest India, https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/food-processing/animal-husbandry. [4] Guidance for Industry Document for Veterinary Biologicals in India, CDSCO. [5] National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. [6] Press Release, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. [7] India to showcase two initiatives on animal health at G20 health meeting (Finance Express) https://www.financialexpress.com/healthcare/india-to-showcase-two-initiatives-on-animal-health-at-g20-health-meeting/3035606/
