‘Centre has scheme for pharma firms of region’

Chandigarh: The central government has come up with Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme to facilitate medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to migrate to the good manufacturing practices (GMP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said a central official here on Friday.
The joint secretary in the central government’s department of pharmaceuticals, N Yuvraj, said on Friday that the central government was offering interest subvention of up to 6% per annum for a period of three years.Speaking during the Regional Pharma Conclave organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yuvraj invited industry to come forward and share suggestions with the central government to boost the pharmaceutical industry.
Pranav Gupta, chair of Haryana state chapter of PHD Chamber, said India was the largest provider of generic drugs globally and known for affordable vaccines. Navneet Marwaha, state drugs controller of Himachal Pradesh, said Baddi had come up as a manufacturing hub of India and produced 50,000 crore drugs annually. Manmohan Taneja, state drug controller of Haryana, said state had come up with Pharma Policy 2019 and more than 300 licences had been granted. “Punjab is strategically located with good air connectivity, and with strong research base,” said Amit Duggal, assistant commissioner (drugs), Punjab. TNN