Govt to promote high quality drug production, reiterates Navdeep Rinwa at PHDCCI virtual conference

New Delhi: The government of India will promote high scale and high-quality drug production, stated Mr Navdeep Rinwa, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals Government of India while addressing a video conference organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on The Future Of Pharma Industry recently. He added that as China is able to produce economically because of the high scale of production, therefore, to make Indian Industry competitive, GOI is giving preference to high scale and high-quality manufacturing.

Giving details of Central Government policies for boosting the pharmaceutical industry, Mr Navdeep Rinwa informed that the Government of India has approved four schemes, two each for bulk drugs and medical devices parks. He exhorted the industry and the States to come forward and participate in these schemes.

Mr Rinwa said that Pharma is one of the ‘champion sectors’ identified by Government of India for providing hand-holding to investors for improving manufacturing capabilities in the country. He said that the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for promoting domestic manufacturing of KSMs, DIs and APIs and medical devices will go a long way in boosting domestic manufacturing of 53 bulk drugs for which India is critically dependent on imports.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. A K Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Government of Haryana informed that there is a big scope for pharmaceutical industry in Haryana as the State has an attractive industrial policy which is titled Enterprise Promotion Policy. He said that the policy will now lay stress on employment also.

In his address, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, IAS, MD, HSIIDC informed that Haryana will bid for the Pharmaceutical Parks with full force and put forward the best proposals. He said that Haryana is ideal for setting up of the Pharmaceutical Parks due to its strategic advantage as Haryana surrounds Delhi from three sides providing access to nearly 11 percent of the domestic market. It has excellent road and air connectivity because 15 national highways are present in Haryana with four of them passing through Delhi-NCR region and has international airports in its vicinity at Delhi and Chandigarh.

Addressing the participants, Mr. N K Ahuja, Haryana State Drug Controller listed a number of advantages for setting up of Pharmaceutical Park including the Pharma Policy of Haryana which has been drafted in consultation with all stakeholders, proximity of Karnal and Panipat to the national capital etc.  He said that the Regulatory Policy of Haryana acts as a friend, philosopher and guide and its focus is to handhold and encourage the entrepreneurs in the State.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Mr. Pranav Gupta Immediate Former Chairman, Haryana State Chapter, PHDCCI said India enjoys an important position in the global pharmaceuticals sector and is the largest provider of generic drugs globally.  The Government of India is providing huge support to the pharmaceutical industry and the country will soon emerge as a global leader in this sector.

Welcoming the eminent speakers and participants, Mr. Mohit Jain, Chairman, Haryana State Chapter PHDCCI stated that an estimated 70 percent of API requirements of India’s pharmaceutical industry are sourced from China. To make India Atmanirbhar, it is important to reduce dependence on China for APIs and other materials.

He appreciated the Haryana Government move to boost Pharmaceutical Sector in the State by launching a dedicated Haryana Pharmaceutical Policy 2019.

Addressing the conference, Mr. Sham Singla, Chairman, Haryana Pharma Committee, PHDCCI urged the Haryana Government said that covid-19 crisis has provided an opportunity to Indian pharmaceutical industry to show its strength and play an important role in global healthcare. He added that Pharma is a thrust sector for most of the State Governments and also for the Central Government. The Government has come forward in terms of formulating lucrative industrial policies for new investors. He added that the upcoming Pharma cluster in Karnal and API Park in Panipat would go a long way in making Haryana a preferred Pharma Hub.

In his theme Address, Mr. B R Sikri, Vice President, Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association of India mentioned that the future of pharma industry in India is great but to fully exploit this potential, focus is required on steps like Government-Industry-Academia collaboration, reduction in Regulatory System, Skill development and improvement in education system.

Mr. Sikri stressed that transparency, ease of doing business, location of all concerned offices in the park, single window system and deemed approval, competitive land cost etc will go a long way in success of proposed Pharmaceutical Parks in Haryana.

Thanking the speakers and participants, Mr Ashutosh Jain, Co-Chairman, Haryana State Chapter PHDCCI said that highly useful and enlightening information was shared during the Session and participants would greatly benefit from the same.