To advance pharmaceuticals and medical technology in the nation, the Central government has allocated Rs 700 crore to establish centres of excellence at the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical, Education & Research (NIPER) over the course of the following five years.
As per a notification released by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, out of the total amount of Rs 700 crore, Rs 243 crore has been approved for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Currently, the nation’s seven states are home to seven NIPERs: Hyderabad (Telangana), Guwahati (Assam), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Mohali (Punjab), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Hajipur (Bihar), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Hyderabad (Telangana).
These will primarily concentrate on research in the areas of bulk drug R&D, biological therapeutics, phytopharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing, and the discovery and development of antiviral and antibacterial drugs.
According to Mansukh Mandaviya, a former minister of health, the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech sector (PRIP) scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2023. The scheme has a five-year budget of Rs 5,000 crore and will run from 2023–2027.
A Parliamentary Panel once more suggested in 2023 that the government increase funding for new projects, like the creation of the Indian Council of Research & Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (ICPMR) and the National Institute of Medical Devices Education and Research (NIMERs).
