Pharmaceutical industry in Tripura and other northeastern states continues to be in a nascent stage as there are no adequate number of pharmacy colleges and investments into pharma sector.

There is only one government-run pharmacy college and there are no private run pharmacy colleges at all, and the number of pharmacy graduates and diploma holders in pharmacy is not more than 30 to 40 every year, N Goswami, a senior drugs official of Tripura, told Pharmabiz.

There are about 1200 retail pharmacists spread across the state. The pharmaceuticals industry is too small with few units operating in the region. The geography and lack of infrastructure has crippled the industry growth in the state, he added.

New pharmaceutical units are also not coming up in the state and the pharmacy profession is at a big risk in Tripura.

He opined, both government and the private sector should make note of this situation and try to improve it. More number of pharmacy colleges should be established, eligibility criteria to pursue pharmacy courses need to be modified, infrastructure should be improved to enable higher investments in the manufacturing of drugs and pharmaceuticals, to revive the situation.