Centre to roll out schemes for strengthening pharma industry with focus on MSMEs and clusters

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DOP) is planning to roll out a series of initiatives under the banner of Schemes for ‘Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry’ (SPI). Keeping in view the strategic role of MSMEs, that provide important forward and backward linkages to the industry, and also keeping in view that MSMEs tend to grow in clusters, these schemes shall address the issues of technology upgradation at both unit level and cluster level.

In order to strengthen the supply chain of pharma industry where MSMEs are an integral part, the Centre shall be incentivising the intending MSME units going in for acquiring Schedule M certification or WHO GMP Certification through the sub-scheme Pharmaceuticals Industry Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS).

The MSME unit shall have the option to choose from either capital subsidy or interest subvention. At the cluster level, the sub-scheme ‘Assistance to Pharmaceuticals Industry for Common Facilities’ (APICF) envisages to support creation of common facilities like testing labs, common effluent treatment plants and other such common facilities by providing government support in the form of capital grant to the extent of up to 70 per cent subject to a ceiling of a maximum of Rs 20 crores. In order to plug the knowledge gap, the third sub-scheme proposes to conduct a series of awareness programmes, conduct sectoral studies and organise similar such programmes to generate soft inputs for policy advocacy.

These initiatives will be unveiled by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister, Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, on 21st July, 2022 at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar International Convention Centre.