STATES

Gujarat, Himachal & Andhra get Centre’s nod to set up bulk drug parks

The government has given in-principle approval to proposals of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh to set up bulk drug parks. 

The scheme, with a financial outlay of Rs 3,000 crore, provides for financial assistance to States to establish bulk drug parks. 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has conveyed in-principle approval to the proposals of the three States under the scheme for promotion of bulk drug parks, a key initiative to support the bulk drugs manufacturing in the country, the Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry has said in a statement. 

The financial assistance to the proposed facilities in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh would be 70 per cent of the project cost of common infrastructure facilities, the statement has added. 

In case of Himachal Pradesh, being a hill State, financial assistance will be 90 per cent of the project cost, it has added. 

Maximum assistance under the scheme for one bulk drug park will be limited to Rs 1,000 crore, according to the statement. 

According to the proposals submitted by the States, the park will come up in 1,402.44 acres in Una district of Himachal Pradesh; 2,015.02 acres in Bharuch district of Gujarat; and 2,000.45 acres in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. 

The country exported bulk drugs and drug intermediates worth Rs 33,320 crore in 2021-22. However, the country also imports various bulk drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for producing medicines from various countries. 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals is implementing various schemes and one of the key interventions is the scheme for bulk drug parks, aimed at making the country self-reliant in APIs and drug intermediates.

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