Introduction to Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Indian Pharmaceutical 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 the 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.
Market Size of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
According to the Indian Economic Survey 2021, the domestic market is expected to grow 3x in the next decade. India’s pharmaceutical market is estimated at US$ 41 billion in 2021 and likely to reach US$ 65 billion by 2024 and further expand to reach ~US$ 120-130 billion by 2030.
India's biotechnology industry comprising biopharmaceuticals, bio-services, bio-agriculture, bio-industry, and bioinformatics. The Indian biotechnology industry was valued at US$ 64 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 150 billion by 2025.
India’s drugs and pharmaceuticals exports stood at US$ 22.15 billion in FY21 (until February 2021).
Investments and Recent Developments
The Union Cabinet has given its nod for the amendment of the existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the pharmaceutical sector to allow FDI up to 100% under the automatic route for manufacturing medical devices subject to certain conditions.
The drugs and pharmaceuticals sector attracted cumulative FDI inflow worth US$ 17.75 billion between April 2000 and December 2020 according to the data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Some of the recent developments/investments in the Indian pharmaceutical sector are as follows:
A) In February 2021, the Telangana government partnered with Cytiva to open a ‘Fast Trak’ lab to strengthen the biopharma industry of the state.
B) In February 2021, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited launched SUTIB, a generic version of Sunitinib oral capsules, for the treatment of kidney cancer in India.
C) In February 2021, Natco Pharma launched Brivaracetam for the treatment of epilepsy in India.
D) In February 2021, the Russian Ministry of Health allowed Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to market its novel fixed-dose combination nasal spray in Russia.
Government Initiatives for Pharma Companies
A) To achieve self-reliance and minimize import dependency in the country's essential bulk drugs, the Department of Pharmaceuticals initiated a PLI scheme to promote domestic manufacturing by setting up greenfield plants with minimum domestic value addition in four separate ‘Target Segments’ with a cumulative outlay of Rs. 6,940 crore (US$ 951.27 million) from FY21 to FY30.
B) In February 2021, the Punjab government announced the establishment of three pharma parks in the state. Of these, a pharma park has been proposed at Bathinda, spread across ~1,300 acres area and project worth ~Rs. 1,800 crore (US$ 245.58 million). Another medical park worth Rs. 180 crore (US$ 24.56 million) has been proposed at Rajpura and the third project, a greenfield project, has been proposed at Wazirabad, Fatehgarh Sahib.
C) Under Union Budget 2021-22, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been allocated Rs. 73,932 crore (US$ 10.35 billion) and the Department of Health Research has been allocated Rs. 2,663 crore (US$ 365.68 billion). The government allocated Rs. 37,130 crore (US$ 5.10 billion) to the 'National Health Mission’. PM Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana was allocated Rs. 64,180 crore (US$ 8.80 billion) over six years. The Ministry of AYUSH was allocated Rs. 2,970 crore (US$ 407.84 million), up from Rs. 2,122 crore (US$ 291.39 million).
Impact of Covid 19 Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
In 2020, the S&P BSE Healthcare index gained 61 percent, outperforming all other sectoral gauges as well as the benchmark Sensex barometer, which rose 15 percent. Stocks in the sector have seen a phenomenal run.
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