JOIN USRs 1,700 cr for capacity-building in pharma sector: Union Minister
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Sunday said pharma sector has been allocated Rs 1,700 crore towards capacity-building.
Addressing the gathering after launching ‘Vision Document 2015’ as part of the 67th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress-2015 here, Nadda said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has considered pharma as a priority sector. The funds expected to be spent three years down the line will be utilised in regulatory system, with thrust on capacity building in manpower.”
Nadda requested the stakeholders for a comprehensive programme to bring in the required change making use of the funds. Focusing on research and development (R&D) in pharma, Nadda stressed on developing a system for inter-coordination in researches at different institutes like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) among others. There should be meaningful researches, besides investing more in the same, he said.
Nadda said “Online registration of companies has been started and it is up to the states to take it forward.”
Secretary to the Department of Pharmaceuticals V K Subbarao said, “Following the recommendations of the exclusive task force, a common website on R&D in pharma will be launched soon. It is aimed at enabling other countries to get a peek into the happenings in the country in the field.” The task force has also recommended hosting annual seminars on research and development.
‘Indian drugs for African nations’
Nadda said that the recent meeting of delegates from African nations had reposed faith in medicines manufactured in India.
He said, “In the meeting, there was a demand from African nations for Indian-made medicines. India has to compete with US, UK and European nations. In the coming days, it may help equate pharmaceutical industry with information technology (IT) industry.