Pharma companies must follow skills deadline

MUMBAI: The pharmaceutical industry must treat as sacrosanct the January 1, 2018 deadline issued by the Drug Controller General of India for upgrading skill sets of its employees, an official said. The domestic pharma sector cannot compromise on quality of its staff, said Ranjit Madan, chief executive officer, Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC), set up under the auspices of the skill development ministry. In August 2016, the Drug Controller General of India had issued a circular stipulating the deadline of January 1, 2018.

“The developed countries have a very high rate of skill sets. As the low rate outweighs... the other factors in the economy, we cannot compromise on the same,” Madan said while speaking at the launch of a skill development project in Maharashtra. LSSSDC has mandated Pollux Life Science Solutions to conduct broad-based skilling in the state, which begins at pharmacy undergraduate level and concludes with job specific theory and practical training of 10 prominent roles that cover 90% of the functions in pharma business.