The pharmaceutical industry in Haryana has urged the State Government to extend some special incentives or package to revive the industry the State, one of the most promising and pioneering hubs for drug manufacturers in the country.

In an interaction with State Health Minister Rao Narender, organised by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) at Gurgaon recently, the industry captains pointed out that the State lagged behind in formulations as the drug manufacturers were opting for more lucrative hubs in other States like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

However, the minister expressed the inability of the State Government at this stage to extend any special package or incentives, on the lines of those existing in some other North Indian States. But he promised that the Government will make sure that they faced no harassments.

Addressing the industry, State Drugs Controller Dr G L Singal said the State was way behind in the case of formulation units though it still accounted for 70 per cent of the medical devices industry. He also pointed out that BE studies were the main hurdles for the industry to grow on its export front.

Chairman of Mankind Pharma R C Juneja said he started his first unit in 1996 at Gurgaon, but could not further flourish there. “The situation has changed. I have only three units in Haryana where I started, and I am having as many as 19 units in Himachal Pradesh. We need some policies to come back here and help it regain the old glory,” he said.

Senior industry leader and director of ABS Mercantiles B R Sikri called for some strong initiatives and incentives to bring back the formulation industry to Haryana. “The State Government can do many things like e-governance and speedy clearances to attract the industry,” he suggested.

Chief of SME Panel of the Pharmexcil and CEO of Pharmachem Nipun Jain urged the State Government to take lead in setting up of cluster which is being assisted by the Commerce Ministry. “Haryana should think of taking mileage out of this scheme that is going be beneficial for the SMEs in a big way in the State,” he suggested to the Minister.

While ruling out special packages for the pharma industry due to many constraints, Rao Narender said the Government would ensure that the industry would not be harassed anyway and he also assured full cooperation on its part. He also agreed to meet the delegation of the industry to examine the problems faced in the sector.

The meeting, attended by over 100 companies in the State, was held against the backdrop of the forthcoming Iphex international exhibition by the Pharmexcil. Vice-chairman of Pharmexcil Ashutosh Gupta, Pharmexcil executive director Raghuveer Kini, senior industry leaders like Lalit Kumar Jain and PK Gupta and senior officials from the state health department were among those present.