Mohan Bhandari, chairman and managing director of Bilcare Ltd, was felicitated with the lifetime achievement award at the 59th IPC conference being held in Varanasi. Bhandaris was chosen for this prestigious award for his enormous contribution in the field of diverse pharma-based services, especially in the field of pharmaceutical packaging industry during the last more than two decades since he founded the Bilcare in 1983.

The award was presented to Bhandari by Dr John L. LaMattina, senior vice-president Pfizer Inc and president Pfizer Global Research and Development, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural function of the event.

Bhandari laid the foundation of Bilcare Ltd 20 years ago, in 1983 with the vision to build leadership in the pharmaceutical packaging industry. Under his leadership, the company has grown manifold, went public and acquired companies in US, Europe and Asia and attained leadership position in the country. Bhandari was also instrumental in starting a new division of the company, namely (GCS) Global Clinical Services.

Under the leadership of Bhandari, the company started off as a pharma packaging company and later diversified into pharma based services, clinical trial supply and services, packaging research and also established clinical research academies in various key markets in India. These achievements were made in the last ten years.

The company has spread its roots exponentially to Singapore, UK and US and established itself as a niche research company with over 55 patents in its kitty. Last week, the company also launched its first Global Research Centre of Excellence with an investment of US$ 12 million in Pune.