Union chemicals and fertilizers minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Monday summarized proposals to boost local manufacturing in the bulk drugs and medical device industries to lessen India’s dependence on imports, mainly from China.
India has a robust $40 billion pharmaceutical sector that is observed as a reliable supplier of generic drugs. But it is reliant on China for about 70% of active pharmaceutical ingredients, or raw materials, which are often cheaper to import than making.
The schemes of the Department of Pharmaceuticals were upheld by the Union Cabinet in March this year. “In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the schemes have been conceptualised for making India Atma Nirbhar in pharma sector,” Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers DV Sadananda Gowda said in a press conference.
The pandemic has uncovered drawbacks in global supply chains and posed a “threat to the health security of the country,” the minister tweeted.
“These parks will be based on plug and play model with prior regulatory approvals, state of art infrastructure, excellent connectivity, affordable land, competitive utility charges, and (a) strong R&D ecosystem,” he said, adding these would begin operating in “about two or three years”.