The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest in the world by volume. It has high market presence in several advanced economies such as the US and EU. The industry is well known for its production of affordable medicines, particularly in the generics space. However the country is significantly dependent on the import of basic raw materials, viz., Bulk Drugs that are used to produce medicines. In some specific bulk drugs, the import dependence is 80 to 100%.
With an objective to attain self-reliance and reduce import dependence in these critical Bulk Drugs – Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in the country, the Department of Pharmaceuticals had launched a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for promotion of their domestic manufacturing by setting up Greenfield plants with minimum domestic value addition in four different Target Segments (In Two Fermentation based – at least 90% and in the Two Chemical Synthesis based – at least 70% ) with a total outlay of Rs. 6,940 cr. for the period 2020-21 to 2029-30.
In total, 215 applications have been received for the 36 products spread across the 4 Target Segments. The guidelines prescribed that the applications would be processed and decided within a period of 90 days, i.e., up to 28th February, 2021. Nineteen applications with a committed investment of Rs.4623.01 crore have already been approved under Target Segment I, II and III.
174 applications were received for 23 Eligible Products under Target Segment IV – Other Chemical Synthesis Based KSMs/ Drug Intermediates/APIs. Out of 174 applications, 79 applications received for 11 eligible products were considered as per the decided evaluation and selection criteria by the Empowered Committee in its meeting held on 27th February, 2021. The applications of following companies, which have committed minimum/more than the minimum proposed annual production capacities and fulfil the prescribed criteria, have been approved, as under:
| Sl.No. | Name of approved Applicant | Name of Eligible Product | Committed Production Capacity
(in MT) |
Committed Investment
(in Rs. crores) |
| 1. | M/s Anasia Lab Private Limited |
Meropenem |
08 | 26.12 |
| 2. | M/s Rajasthan Antibiotics Limited | 48 | 28.25 | |
| 3. | M/s Centrient Pharmaceuticals India Private Limited | Atorvastatin | 180 | 137.74 |
| 4. | M/s Anasia Lab Private Limited | Olmesartan | 75 | 27.09 |
| 5. | M/s Andhra Organics Limited | 75 | 30.50 | |
| 6. | M/s Solana Life Sciences Private Limited | Artesunate | 40 | 20.00 |
| 7. | M/s RMC Performance Chemicals Private Limited | Aspirin | 1500 | 12.00 |
| 8. | M/s Surya Remedies Private Limited | Ritonavir | 20 | 20.00 |
|
|
M/s Honour Lab Limited | Lopinavir | 49 | 31.01 |
|
|
M/s Hindys Lab Private Limited | Acyclovir | 525 | 30.37 |
|
|
M/s Dasami Lab Private Limited | Carbamazepine | 260 | 30.28 |
|
|
M/s Dasami Labs Private Limited |
Oxcarbazepine |
195 | 25.58 |
|
|
M/s Hetero Drugs Limited | 195 | 19.00 | |
|
|
M/s Hazelo Lab Private Limited | Vitamin B6 | 70 | 21.53 |
The setting up of these plants will lead to total committed investment of Rs.459.47 crore and employment generation of about 3,715 by the companies. The commercial production of these plants is projected to commence from 1st April, 2023 onward.
With this approval, a total of 33 applications with committed investment of Rs.5082.65 crore have been approved by the Government under the PLI Scheme for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Setting of these plants will make the country self-reliant to a large extent in respect of these Bulk drugs. The disbursal of production linked incentive by the Government over the six years period would be up to a maximum of Rs.5,440 cr.
7. It has been further decided to take up the remaining 95 applications under the Target Segment-IV till 31 March, 2021 for scrutiny and approval.