Govt unveils pharma policy

Health and Family Welfare  Minister Aravinda Limbavali has invited pharmaceutical companies in Karnataka set up their plants across the State instead of focussing only on Bangalore.

Releasing the Karnataka Pharmaceutical Policy, 2012, here on Wednesday the minister said that many foreign pharmaceutical companies were willing to set up their plants in the State.

“If the local pharma companies are reluctant to expand beyond Bangalore, we may have to give the opportunity to foreign players,” he said. Limbavali said there was a need to decongest Bangalore and provide development opportunities to other districts in the State.

Dr G N Singh, Drugs Controller General (India) sought land to set up a branch of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) Karnataka, to which Limbavali agreed provided the office is located outside Bangalore.

The Pharmaceutical policy is the first of its kind in the country brought out by a state government to boost the investments in the pharmaceutical sector.  The policy offers attractive incentives and concessions for pharma companies over and above the Industrial policy.  This includes setting up of Pharma Parks, common testing laboratory, cold storage and warehousing. 

There is also a capital subsidy up to 50 per cent of the cost of common effluent treatment plant.  With the launch of the policy, the government hopes to emerge as a research hub for pharmaceutical sector by leveraging academic, industry and research and development ecosystem. There is also a hope of creating additional employment opportunities.