Lok Sabha Question No. 2969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Self-reliance in Pharmaceuticals and Biopharma
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2969 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 th  MARCH, 2023

## Self-reliance in Pharmaceuticals and Biopharma

## 2969. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government agrees to the view that India need to make exponential investments in Research and Development (R&D), manufacturing, and digital transformations to become a global pharmaceutical innovation hub as well as achieve its vision of self-reliance in pharmaceuticals and biopharma;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in view the fact that India's current public expenditure on R&D remains low, at less than one percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

(a)  to (c):  Yes  Sir.  Realizing  the  importance  of  Pharma  innovation,  the  Hon'ble  Finance Minister  in  her  Budget  speech  2023-24  has  announced  that  a  new  Programme  to  promote research and innovation in pharmaceuticals will be taken up through Centres of Excellence. She had further informed the House that the government shall also encourage industry to invest in research and development in specific priority areas.

Pursuant  thereto,  the  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  has  formulated  a  Scheme  for 'Promotion  of  Research  and  Innovation  in  Pharma  MedTech  Sector  (PRIP)'  having  two components,  viz.,  strengthening  the  research  infrastructure  by  establishment  of  Centres  of Excellences  (CoEs)  at  seven  existing  National  Institutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Education  & Research (NIPERs) and to provide financial assistance for the companies working with Govt. Institutes and for doing in-house R&D in specified moon-shot areas.

In  addition,  the  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  has  already  set  up  seven  National Institutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Education  &  Research  (NIPERs)  all  over  the  country  to run postgraduate and doctorate courses and undertake high-end research in the pharma sector. An amount of Rs. 1,500 cr has been approved for implementation of the scheme of NIPER during the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Further, in order to encourage domestic manufacturing, reduce import dependence and ensure technology up-gradation, the Department is implementing the following schemes:

- i. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of  critical  Key  Starting  Materials  (KSMs)/  Drug  Intermediates  (DIs)  and  Active
2. ii.
3. iii.

Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with a financial outlay of Rs. 6,940 crores with a tenure from FY 2020-2021 to FY 2029-30; Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Pharmaceuticals with a financial outlay of Rs. 15,000 crores and the tenure from FY 2020- 2021 to FY 2028-29; Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks with a financial outlay of Rs. 3,000 crores and tenure from FY 2020-2021 to FY 2024-25; and

- iv. Scheme of Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI) with a financial outlay of Rs. 500 crores and the tenure from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-26.

*****