The central government is prepared to allocate Rs200 to 400 crore to universities to encourage pharmaceutical research and training, said union transport minister Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur. The minister was addressing pharmacists at a national seminar organized by Central India Pharmacy Promotion and Research Association (Cippara) at a city hotel on Saturday.

Gadkari also suggested setting up of a centre for sickle cell and thalassemia patients in north Nagpur and invited pharmaceutical companies to establish manufacturing units in special economic zone (SEZ) in Mihan and MIDC Hingna.

"There is a lot of potential for the pharmaceutical industry to grow in Nagpur given its central location. The city is also being developed as a logistics hub which will allow swift transportation of manufactured products here," said Gadkari.

Gadkari urged universities to develop their pharmaceutical departments to be able to conduct research and provide training to pharmacy students. "A strong infrastructure will create a good opportunity because there are already special degree courses in pharmacy and people with good technical abilities," he said.

The minister estimates that a sickle cell and thalassaemia centre will cost around Rs15 crore to build and another Rs25 crore each year for maintenance.

Gadkari said, "It has been brought to my attention that cases of the two diseases have been growing among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community in north Nagpur. The situation is similar in districts like Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Gondia and Chandrapur. A speciality centre would serve the patients in the region."

The minister said that though the construction of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in the city has stalled, he will follow it up with the ministries concerned. By that time, he said, such projects should be contracted to private companies.