Pharma industry needs to outsource to Europe

The pharmaceutical industry has faced well documented challenges over the last 12 months, and the sector is only too aware of this and understands that now is the time to look at new processes and a change in the way they have traditionally done business, says GDS International.

Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is witnessing rapid advancements in processes and technological developments. Automation is emerging as an integral part of nearly all manufacturing processes and pharmaceutical big wigs are ready to invest in the future. Due to the implementation of regulatory norms and spiralling, costs pharmaceutical companies have been opting to outsource their manufacturing processes to contract manufacturing organizations in order to improve on efficiency and productivity. Countries such as Brazil, Ukraine, Mexico, China and India have taken full advantage of the need for lower manufacturing costs and have aided a boost in manufacturing growth. But this in itself has its own drawbacks.

It was not too long ago that most medications were manufactured in the same country they had been discovered, from start to finish; this meant more control and less mistakes. It is now predicted that up to 40% of drugs taken in the European Union are imported and up to 80% of the active ingredients in those drugs come from foreign sources. It has been harder and harder to keep track of the quality of ingredients and regularly inspecting the facilities which are producing the chemicals having to rely on paperwork to control production. There has even been some concerning reports that some Indian manufacturers have been accused of forging documentation.