Pharmexcil has created an exclusive desk called ‘Innovation Desk’ to promote import substitution and help the pharmaceutical industry in the country to avoid excess dependence on bulk drug imports.

According to Udaya Bhaskar, Director General of Pharmexcil, the main objective of Innovation desk’ is to collaborate with Industry, research laboratories and government agencies in the areas of research and development and provide valuable inputs to the government in identifying the key products which can be sourced within the country and avoid excess dependence on imports for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key starting materials (KSM).

“As we already know that more than 80 per cent of Indian pharma industry depends on China for low cost API and other KSMs. In view of this, it has become imperative for the government and the industry to get ready with alternative sources of supply if in case of any emergency. After deliberating with various stake holders of the industry and the government, we have decided to create an ‘Innovation Desk’ which will serve as an exclusive platform to help the government and the industry to chart out way ahead for self reliance,” said the DG.

Soon after the creation of ‘Innovation Desk’ the council has appointed  A V Chainulu, a senior official who had worked with Department of Science and Technology as the head of ‘Innovation’. The innovation desk is now mandated to conduct regular meetings with leading members of the Industry, research laboratories and form collaborations with them and help the government to take concrete policy decisions which would in turn encourage the domestic players to invest in large scale manufacture of APIs at affordable costs within the country.

Currently the innovation desk is coordinating with the stakeholders in the evolution of strategies to reduce import dependency for KSMs, APIs and Intermediates.  Earlier in April, the council had for the first time organized a separate ‘Innovation Longue’ at IPHEX 2017 in Hyderabad and extended advisory services to the interested members.

 For encouraging the members to take up research and facilitate research and development as part of Make in India, the central government is providing various incentives 100 per cent write off of revenue and capital expenditure on R&D, weighted tax deduction up to 175 per cent for sponsored research programmes in approved National Laboratories, Universities and IITs, weighted tax deduction up to 200 per cent on R&D expenditure to members of pharma companies and also extending IT exemptions up 125 per cent on donations to research institutions engaged in social sciences and statistical research.

Apart from this the government is also allowing duty free import of specified goods for use in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.  Interested members who wish to understand more about the above incentives or need any advice on new technologies are advised to contact the Innovation desk at Pharmexcil.