The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is in talks with the pharmaceutical industry to enhance more stakeholder intervention under the strengthening of pharmaceuticals industry (SPI) scheme led by DoP Joint Secretary N Yuvaraj. The SPI scheme has a financial outlay of Rs 500 crore and has a tenure from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-26.

The SPI scheme was constituted to provide infrastructure support for pharma Micro, Small and Medium Pharma Enterprises (MSMEs) in clusters and to address the issues of technology upgradation of individual pharma MSMEs.

The three components of the scheme include Assistance to Pharmaceutical Industry for Common Facilities (API-CF), Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS), Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS).

Sharing his views, Daara Patel , Secretary General of Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) said, “The SPI scheme is similar to PTUAS scheme. It is aimed to facilitate MSMEs of proven track record to meet national and international regulatory standards (WHO-GMP or Schedule-M) which will further facilitate the growth in volumes as well as in medicine quality”.

He added that IDMA has got eight state boards and is all set to give full support to the DoP. Meetings are scheduled to be held in different parts of the country.

PTUAS is a credit-linked scheme and under this, applications have been invited from eligible Pharma MSME units from August 1, 2022. For registration of applications, an online portal has been developed by SIDBI, the Project Management Consultant (PMC) of the scheme.

“Around 60 applications have been registered till mid-December, 2022 under PTUAS. It is envisaged to support about 400 Pharma MSME units under this sub-scheme during the scheme tenure. The Scheme was incorporated as a sub-scheme under the SPI scheme, which was launched in July, 2022,” according to a DoP official.

“The DoP has been actively involved in these schemes and is ensuring that every MSME gets an opportunity to upgrade their facilities and develop their manufacturing units to meet the necessary standards for exports. The SPI scheme will help the pharma industry enhance its quality, technology and infrastructure for the overall development of the pharma sector,” said an official associated with the development.

Bhagwati Prasad