In a major initiative to give a big boost to the pharmaceutical companies in Tamil Nadu, the state government is planning to set up a pharma park in Chennai.

The project, with all facilities required for pharmaceutical units will be developed somewhere near the HLL project in Chengalpattu near Chennai, according to the Director of state drug control department.

He was speaking to Pharmabiz on the sidelines of a meeting to celebrate the 49th National Pharmacy Week organized by the IPA Tamil Nadu and the TN Pharmaceutical Welfare Trust in Chennai.

M Bhaskaran, the director, said the pharma park will be set up in a special economic zone and for the convenience of the industry and the law enforcing departments, the land will be identified near the mega project of HLL Lifecare Ltd. The proposal given by him to the government focuses multiple facilities from collection, stock and processing of raw materials to formulation and release of batches. It will have space for packaging and logistics facilities along with formulation and bulk drug manufacturers.

Bhaskaran said the common facilities for Research & Development and other related services with technical and biotechnical divisions will be of help for both the big as well as small units. To facilitate the growth of healthcare sector, the project will have a facility for medical devices also.

Another facility in the park area will provide training and technical assistance to the industry’s R&D personnel, orientation courses for pharmacists, business development programs and updating on export-import policies for non-technical and marketing staff.  There will also be common infrastructure facilities like effluent treatment plan at the site.