The Hyderabad-based Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL), which used to produce 100 metric tonnes of Vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride) per annum, is in the red and has found it uneconomical to continue production.Pharmaceutical companies which purchase the vitamin for their drugs and formulations from IDPL see no way out of the predicament unless the central government allows its import under the Open General Licence (OGL).

In fact, the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has already written to the Union Ministry of Commerce asking for permission to import Vitamin B1 under the OGL, says the association's secretary-general I A Alva.

Meanwhile, with stocks fast depleting, prices of B-complex drugs and capsules are rising in tandem. Accordingto Anand Amin, a distributor with a Mumbai-based agency Service India, ``The price of 30 Zevit capsules, a Smithklein Becham product, has risen from Rs 45 to Rs 49.50. Becozinc, an American Remedies product, which used to cost Rs 32 now costs Rs 37.50. Polyzee, a new product by E-Merck, is priced at Rs 34.50,'' he says.

However, availability varies area-wise with prices reflecting the pattern. Anand Katurde, a chemist from Matunga, still has old stocks and says there is no drastic increase in prices yet. ``Prices of popular brands like Becasul and Survex had gone up by 25 paise while E-Merck's Nero-B1 is still available at Rs 2.30 per tablet,'' he says.

Joint Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), V M Bobade told Express Newsline that the FDA is still making inquiries concerning the shortage and price hike. ``We are aware of the problem but we will need time to find a solution. We have to ascertain that the drug is not manufactured anywhere else in India,'' he said, adding that the FDA willkeep a vigil on B1 imports to ensure that quality control of incoming drugs is maintained.

However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for pharma companies to maintain production levels and ensure continuous availability of multi-vitamin and B-complex formulations.

For instance, stocks at Abbott Laboratories (India) Limited are likely to last only for three weeks and Company Secretary S Shankar says continuity of production will depend solely on availability of materials.

Abbott manufactures B-complex in liquid and tablet formulations under the brand names Surbex-t, Vidaylin, Iberol and Zenbex-T. Glaxo, the other pharma giant, manufactures Livogen Captabs and Complex B Glaxo liquid and tablets along with other brands like Becadexamin, Cobadex Forte and Vitneurin.

Abbott requires approximately 2,500 kg while Glaxo uses 18-20 tonnes of B1 every year.

``The only solution is for the central government to allow import of vitamin B under Open General Licence (OGL),'' says Shankar.

``Glaxo at presentimports B1 against a valid licence and there has been no shortage so far. But there could be a shortage if the situation prevails beyond another fortnight,'' says Sandhya Janorkar, the company's Corporate Communications Manager.

However, doctors say the shortage might just curb the rampant over-prescription of B-complex as a tonic. Immediate past president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bombay branch, Dr Hozie Kapadia told Express Newsline, ``B-complex should be prescribed only when there is a vitamin deficiency. However, it is often over-prescribed as a tonic.''

"There has been no acute shortage of B-complex and multi-vitamin products so far but if there is one in the near future, people will be inconvenienced. These are not essential drugs, he maintains.

``Cases of Vitamin B deficiency are rare in urban areas and it is even less in the higher and middle socio-economic groups,'' he says.