Budget 2026: OPPI calls ‘Biopharma Shakti’ India’s leap toward global leadership

New Delhi: Anil Matai, Director General of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), described the Union Budget’s Biopharma Shakti programme as a defining moment for India’s life sciences sector, one that clearly signals the country’s ambition to emerge as a global biopharma manufacturing powerhouse.

According to him, the Rs 10,000 crore allocation spread over five years reflects a strong and deliberate long-term vision. It underscores India’s intent to build a resilient, innovation-led and fully integrated biopharmaceutical ecosystem—one that seamlessly connects research and development with advanced manufacturing, regulatory excellence and, ultimately, improved patient access.

Matai highlighted the exemption of basic customs duties on 17 cancer drugs, along with the extension of import duty exemptions to medicines for seven additional rare diseases, as one of the most impactful measures in the Budget. He called it a decisive, patient-first intervention that directly lowers the cost burden of advanced and often life-saving therapies for families grappling with cancer and rare diseases. At a time when non-communicable diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders and diabetes are on the rise, he noted that easing financial barriers to complex treatments is a meaningful step toward more equitable access to care. He also pointed out that this move reinforces India’s commitment to improving access to cutting-edge therapies while creating a supportive environment for innovation and global collaboration.

The Budget’s focused push on biologics and biosimilars, backed by a dedicated biopharma innovation network, was described by Matai as positioning India strongly for the next wave of complex, high-value therapies. He further emphasised the transformative potential of investments in talent and scientific capability, particularly through the establishment of three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and the upgradation of seven existing institutions. OPPI member companies, he said, have already been collaborating closely with NIPERs, and this enhanced investment is expected to significantly strengthen India’s research backbone while creating a skilled workforce aligned with the demands of advanced pharmaceutical science.

Matai also welcomed the plan to expand India’s clinical research capacity by developing 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites. He described this as a major step toward improving trial quality, diversity and global competitiveness, while also enabling earlier patient access to innovative therapies. Complementing this, he noted, is the government’s commitment to strengthening the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to global standards—through faster approval timelines, a dedicated scientific review system and greater specialist-led evaluations. Together, these measures signal a shift toward a more agile, science-based and globally aligned regulatory environment.

Overall, Matai said OPPI welcomes the Budget as a comprehensive and forward-looking roadmap—one that accelerates India’s evolution from being known primarily as the “pharmacy of the world” to becoming a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation and advanced healthcare solutions.