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SPI scheme to propel investments & upgrade plants to WHO-GMP standards
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
August 09 , 2022
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The Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) is now upbeat on the Union government’s scheme of ‘Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry’ (SPI). The initiative is designed to support the creation of pharma clusters for growth by creating common facilities like R&D labs, testing centres, effluent treatment plants, logistic centres, training hubs and other allied activities.
Further, SPI also incentivizes micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to undertake capital expenditure to upgrade HVAV to WHO standards, set up stability testing chambers , modern labs, pilot scale manufacturing equipment for research, water purification systems, among others.
In order to create an awareness on the financial assistance from the government, KDPMA along with the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and SIDBI organized an event to highlight the key aspects of the SPI scheme announced by the Union government in July this year.
Harish K Jain, president, KDPMA and director, Embiotic Labs stated that SPI was the best that could have happened as it is a pathway to progress for MSMEs. The industry will now will now gear up to maximize the offering. The state already has one of the best knowledge eco-systems with leading pharmacy colleges and research institutions like the Indian Institute of Science, JSS College of Pharmacy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Government College of Pharmacy.
Karnataka was home to global pharma majors like AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk among others, much before the Information Technology revolution. However, the MSMEs face the challenge to modernize its production units, upgrade its manufacturing processes and enhance the quality of the products. Moreover, we are the only industry probably under constant pricing pressure from the governments across the world for reasons of health and security of the people, he added.
Karnataka drugs controller, Bhagoji T Khanapure noted that the MSME needed the sustained support and the schemes for SIP could bolster its growth. The state pharma companies were recognized globally for their highest quality standards and are much dependent from leading global companies for contract manufacture which only proves the capability of the sector.
Karnataka commerce and industries secretary, Pankaj Kumar Pandey noted that it is time for the industry to move forward to meet the future market opportunities. In this regard, the state government along with KDPMA will conduct similar outreach programme for the promotion of Schemes for ‘Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry need to be conducted in the districts of Belagavi and Kalaburgi among others.
Further Karnataka which has the talent pool and a sound research ecosystem needs to have a similar infrastructure like the Andhra Pradesh Med-Tech Zone accelerate its capability in the sector, said Commerce and Industries secretary Pandey.
According to Dr EV Ramana Reddy, Karnataka’s additional chief secretary, Commerce and Industries, the state is known for its industry-academia partnerships which is helping to spur the development in the sector. The scheme for SPI will give a further boost to growth.
Dr N Yuvaraj, joint secretary, DoP said pharma clusters are key to growth. The industry will have to made a shift from generic drug manufacture to research and innovation in cell therapy and targeted drug development as this is gaining ground.
Providing a snapshot of Karnataka pharma, Manoj Palrecha, vice president, KDPMA and managing director, Lake Chemicals said that exports of medicines from the state only proved the capacity, capability and time line delivery schedules that paved the way for reliability in the global market.
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