Schemes to boost bulk drugs manufacture

Topics Covered: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Schemes to boost bulk drugs manufacture

What to study?

For Prelims and Mains: Features, implementation, significance of the scheme.

Context: The Union government has approved a package comprising the scheme on Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in the country.

Scheme on Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks:

• The scheme aims to promote medical device parks in the country in partnership with the states. 
• Under the scheme, an incentive of five per cent of incremental sales over the base year 2019-20 will be provided on the segments of identified medical devices.

Implementation of the Scheme:

1. The Scheme for Promotion of Medical Device Parks will be implemented by a State Implementing Agency (SIA).
2. The PLI Scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing will be implemented by a Project Management Agency (PMA) to be nominated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

There are four categories of medical devices considered under the PLI Scheme:

1. Cancer care/Radiotherapy medical devices
2. Radiology & Imaging medical devices (both ionizing & non-ionizing   radiation products) and Nuclear Imaging Devices.
3. Anesthetics & Cardio-Respiratory medical devices including Catheters of Cardio Respiratory Category & Renal Care Medical Devices.
4. AII Implants including implantable electronic devices like Cochlear Implants and Pacemakers.

Significance of these schemes:

Lead to substantial reduction in import of target segments of medical devices.

Boost domestic manufacturing by attracting large investments in the medical device sector.

Sources: pib.