Present Status and Approach Adopted in Review
3. Over the last several years, policy inputs have been directed towards promoting the
growth of the industry and in helping it to achieve a broad base in terms
of the range of products and technologies needed to produce them from as
basic a stage as possible. The results have been very encouraging. As on
date, there are about 250 large units and about 8,000 small scale units in
operation, which form the core of the Industry (including 5 Central Public
Sector Units). These units produce the complete range of formulations i.e.
medicines ready for consumption by patients, and about 350 bulk drugs,
i.e. chemicals having therapeutic value used for production of
formulations. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the indigenous demand
for bulk drugs and almost the entire demand for formulations are being met
through domestic production.
4. During the
last decade the production of bulk drugs has grown from Rs. 240 crores in
1980-81 to Rs. 1320 crores in 1993-94 and corresponding increase in
production of formulations has been from Rs. 1200 crores to Rs. 6900
crores. The export performance of Industry has also been
commendable. The trade balance has been positive for the last four
consecutive years. During 1992-93 the trade balance was Rs. 560 crores
(excluding exports of Medicinal Castor Oil).
5. Since 1986,
the Drug Industry has grown significantly, as mentioned earlier, in
terms of production of bulk drugs and formulations. In many cases
manufacture of bulk drugs has also been established from the desired basic
stage. It is estimated that in case of bulk drug production the
contribution of small scale sector is approximately 30 per cent of
the total production in the country. It may also be mentioned that the
pharmaceutical sector has been able to carve a special niche for itself in
the international market as a dependable exporter of bulk
drugs.
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