Government to develop six bulk drugs, medical devices parks

NEW DELHI: To reduce import dependence, the government has decided to establish six bulk drug and medical devices parks, which will entail a combined investment of Rs 60,000 crore.

"The government has decided to establish 3 bulk drugs and 3 medical devices parks across the country. These parks will require an investment of about Rs 60,000 crore," Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar told PTI.

As per various estimates, once these parks become operational, they can bring down the cost of production of devices and bulk drugs by at least 30 per cent and in long-run, this will help the general public also, he said.

"As much as 80 per cent of our total requirement of bulk drugs/APIs and 65 per cent of total demand of medical devices is met through imports. So, we want this to be reduced by facilitating domestic manufacturing," Kumar said.

These parks will be established on the public private partnership (PPP) mode and the centre is in talks with various states for setting up of these parks, he said.

"We are also considering to provide one-time financial support for these bulk drug parks," he added.

These bulk drug and medical devices parks will have common facilities like testing, power and effluent treatment plants.

Besides, there will be common utilities and services such as storage, testing laboratories, IPR management, designing and guest house/accommodation, maintained by a separate special purpose vehicle.

The Minister also informed that Department of Pharmaceuticals has moved an updated cabinet note on policy for bulk drugs which is under circulation.

The department has taken into considerations all recommendations of V M Katoch committee, which was constituted in 2013, to study the whole issue of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of critical importance.

Bulk drugs are used as raw materials by the pharmaceuticals industry.