Life saving drugs at cheaper prices

 

The Government had been focusing on reaching medicines to the poor at cheaper prices.  It had been taking steps to further strengthen the Jan Aushadi Scheme. As a part of the scheme, it is now proposed to increase the Jan Aushadi stores and include more number of generic medicines to be sold through the stores. 

 

Considering the dependence of the country for certain crucial bulk drugs/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API)  a National Centre for Research and Development in Bulk Drugs (NCRDBD) is proposed to be made operational at a NIPER, Hyderabad to become an innovative hub and R&D provider in the Sector.  This will help in offering competitive and echo friendly technologies in specified areas, products and processes.

 

Besides, efforts for capacity building of the industry, various National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) are being strengthened.

 

The Ministry has launched major measures to encourage production and capacity-building in the Pharma Sector.

Cluster Development Programme for Pharma Sector (CDS-PS) - With a vision to catalyze & encourage quality, productivity and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector to meet the ever growing domestic needs, and at the same time, enable the Indian pharmaceutical sector to play a leading role in a competitive global market, the Ministry has approved the introduction of CDS-PS on 27.10.2014.

Task Force have been set up, comprising of representatives from Government Departments/ Institutions and Industry Associations has been set up in the Ministry to

o   enable the Private Sector to lead the growth of Pharmaceutical Sector

and

o   for Development of manufacturing capabilities in each medical vertical in Pharmaceutical production

 

For the first time a Task Force has also been set up to identify issues relating to the promotion of domestic production of high end Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment in the Country.

Revival Initiatives for Pharma PSUs – The Ministry has initiated Rehabilitation Schemes for two sick CPSEs - Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. and Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Another sick unit – Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd has reported a 243% increase in production during the period April-October, 2014, as compared to last year – from Rs.11.23 crores to Rs. 38.62 crores.

 

 

 

 

 Measures for revival of Fertiliser Corporation of India Limited (FCIL) units at Talcher, Gorakhpur, Ramagundam and HFCL Unit of Barauni have been initiated. Similarly steps for immediate revival of the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) have been taken on instructions from the Prime Minister. The aim is to increase production of fertilizers in the country as a part of the “Make In India” concept. A new fertilizer policy itself is on the anvil which would also propound balanced use of fertilizers. For clearing the backlog of  the pending subsidy claims on fertilizers a Special Banking Arrangement has been made in June 2014  to clear claims of 7000 crore rupees.

 

The New Investment Policy under which there are 12 proposals for setting up new fertilizer units in the country had been modified and is being pursued. Details: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=113449

 

In a new way various concerned Ministers are holding parleys to thrash out various problems in reviving of these units.  Serious steps have been initiated for extension of the Hazira -Jagdishpur gas pipeline for revival of these units in Northern and the Eastern Corridor. Similarly, the gas pipelines in the Southern region are proposed to be extended or completed for revival of the fertilizer units there besides development of other industries.  Possibilities of providing the Gas pipeline connectivity to Madras Fertilisers Limited – Manali (MFL), Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited, Mangalore (MCFL) and Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Limited , Tuticorin,(SPIC) were being explored, as they were closed due to earlier decisions, being Naphtha based units. Several meetings were held involving the Minister for Chemicals & Fertilisers Shri Ananth Kumar, the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and the Minister for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal. 

            The draft National Chemical Policy which has been prepared after extensive consultation with stakeholders is being considered to be finalized. The draft Policy considers various imperatives in a comprehensive manner for the growth and sustainable development of the chemical sector in the country.  The vision is to increase the share of the chemical sector in GDP substantially and devise strategies to increase investments, ensure availability of feedstock, promote R&D and increase competitiveness in the international market.

            Meanwhile in the Budget 2014-15 announced on 10^th July 2014, Government approved rationalization of customs duty structures which will increase the competitiveness of the domestic petrochemical industry. The major announcements which will boost investment by domestic industry are:  

i)        Customs duty reduction on reformate from 10% to 2.5% and other petrochemical feedstocks namely ethane and propane from 5%   to 2.5 %.

ii)      Customs duty reduction on building blocks namely ethylene, propylene, butadiene and    ortho-xylene from 5% to 2.5%.

iii)    To sustain the recent investment on Spandex Yarn (an import substitution product), the customs duty on raw materials used in its manufacturing has been reduced to 2.5% (from 5%)

 

            As a part of development of various Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investments Regions (PCPIR)of the country anchor Companies and Industry bodies have been formed for each PCPIR, under the chairmanship of Secretary(C&PC),  to monitor and expedite implementation of the PCPIRs already established  in   Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha and Tamilnadu. .

Central Institute for Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) has signed MoUs with various State Governments Departments to impart skill development / vocational   training

 

At present the Government has accorded approval for setting up plastic parks in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Tamil Nadu. However, in view of demand from other State Governments i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and  Gujarat the Department has proposed to increase the number of plastic parks to be setup from 4 to 10.

 

Research & Development

In order to encourage the plastics industries under 'Make-in India' campaign, initiative has been taken for "Standardization of Plastic Products". In a meeting in the Ministry on 11^th November, 2014, it was proposed to pursue BIS to promote more standards by creating a dedicated Divisional Council on plastics and allied products.