A self-reliant pharma industry

The pharmaceuticals industry is a key sector for the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. Schemes need to be modified in order to make the sector attractive for the investors.

India’s Pharma Industry

• India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50% of global demand for various vaccines, 40% of generic demand in the US and 25% of all medicine in the UK.
• Globally, India ranks 3rd in terms of pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value.
• The domestic pharmaceutical industry includes a network of 3,000 drug companies and ~10,500 manufacturing units.
• India enjoys an important position in the global pharmaceuticals sector.
• The country also has a large pool of scientists and engineers with a potential to steer the industry ahead to greater heights.
• Presently, over 80% of the antiretroviral drugs used globally to combat AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) are supplied by Indian pharmaceutical firms.