UNDP Supports the Phaseout of CFCs in the Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Metered Dose Inhalers in India

Eliminating consumption of CFCs used in Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI) manufacturing was one of the last challenges India faced in achieving 100% CFC phaseout by 1 January 2010. Even though CFC usage for MDIs was a small percentage of national CFC usage until 1999, it grew rapidly during 2000-2007 due to the increasing demand for inhalers by asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.

India had a problem – how to eliminate this CFC use while at the same time ensuring continuous availability of cost-effective medication to asthma and COPD patients. At Government request, UNDP helped develop this 5-year project. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund at its 56th Meeting in November 2008, with Italy providing bilateral assistance. UNEP was responsible for the awareness and capacity building components. Funding was provided to four beneficiary enterprises: Cadila Healthcare, CIPLA, Midas-Care Pharmaceuticals, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, to adopt CFC-free alternative formulations.

The implementation of this 5-year project started in 2009 and ended successfully in 2012, one year ahead of schedule. A performance- based payment implementation system was designed whereby the four enterprises received payments based on verification of specific performance milestones achieved. This innovative modality helped fast-track project implementation and increased buy-in and ownership of the conversion process by the beneficiary enterprises.

The project eliminated 703 ODP tons of CFCs and ensured a continuous and cost-effective supply of CFC-free medication not only to asthma patients in India but also to asthma patients in other countries served by Indian exports.

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