Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC) has submitted a detailed report on job roles ratified by the industry to National Skill Development Council (NSDC) for final review to address the shortage of skilled work force in the life science industry. The study is with reference to four job roles in the life science industry.

These job roles are related to Qualification Packs (QP’s) for Medical Sales Representative, QC Chemist, QA Chemist, Production Chemist and Operator production- Solid Oral Dosage.

The Indian Life Sciences Sector (comprising pharmaceuticals, bio technology and clinical) has been growing at a CAGR of 17 per cent. In the process it has been facing a shortage of skilled work force across functions and levels. With this background, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in co-operation with NSDC, decided to set up a Sector Skill Council for Life Sciences namely LSSSDC.

LSSSDC has commenced work, ahead of the comprehensive study, on its primary function of development of National Occupation Standards (NOS’s) and Qualification Packs (QP’s), by taking up five of the more voluminous job roles, as identified by organisations in the industry.

The Council will accredit training institutions and help them develop curricula based on NOS's, Training of Trainers and certification of the skilled workforce. As per the programme, skill requirements of all job roles in the sector will be appropriately captured in the NOS's and QP's, thereby minimising the skill gaps that currently exist across levels and functional areas. This will also mark a paradigm shift from the current supply led system, wherein aspirants obtain diplomas or degrees from various training institutes and universities, but upon joining the Life Sciences sector, are usually found to be inadequately skilled.

In order to do comprehensive study of all job roles and develop NOS’s and QP’s, across the Sector, a pre-bid meeting was held with prospective Knowledge Partners in Delhi on May 22 following which bids were evaluated in technical and financial terms by the NOS Committee. It was awarded to KPMG on July 17, and the contract is in the process of being signed.

"LSSSDC will be demand led and comprehensive taking into account of needs of stakeholders, emphasising standards and quality, with a sustainable and scalable model. It will provide industry with a sustained stream of skilled individuals across functional areas and levels, thereby vastly reducing costs associated with re-skilling, attrition and low productivity. In the process it also hopes to help address issue of fake certificates and degrees-an area of major concern to the life sciences industry," concludes Ranjit Madan, chief executive officer, LSSSDC.

LSSSDC is a not for profit organisation, registered under the Societies Act, 1860. As a National level organisation, Its aim, over a 10 year period, will be to map all job roles in the sector (estimated 100), enlist 339 training organisations, train over 39,000 trainers and certify approximately 3.4 million skilled workers in this sector.

LSSSDC, has Satish Reddy, chairman of Dr Reddy’s Lab, as its chairman. At the helm is a governing body with representation from various stakeholder groups, including industry (through major Associations such as IPA, BDMA, IDMA, CIPI, ABLE and ACRO), Government (through Pharmexcil) and Academia (NIPER and DIPSAR). Day to day operations are managed by the chief executive officer, Ranjit Madan and his team.

Funding for the first few years will be through a combination of grant through NSDC and contributions from Industry, via it’s associations. Thereafter, Council is expected to become self- sustained, through revenue flows from fees for training, accreditation, certification; and membership.

As a part of the Government's initiative to skill 500 million people in the country across sectors by 2022,  National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and National Skill Development Council (NSDC) were set up to create an enabling environment to help  Councils in varied sectors accomplish their goals.