Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) announces Scheme for Strengthening of Pharmaceuticals Industry (SPI)
Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has consolidated the existing schemes for pharmaceutical industry development into a single scheme called Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI) that includes a modification in the guidelines to strengthen existing infrastructure, with a total expenditure of Rs. 500 crore.
Under this scheme, pharma clusters will receive financial assistance for creation of common facilities that will ensure sustainable growth of the clusters, and upgrade production facilities of micro, small, and medium enterprises to meet national and international regulatory standards. In addition to promoting knowledge in and about the pharmaceuticals and medical devices industry, the committee plans to study the field, build databases, and bring in experts from different fields to share their expertise.
The scheme will have the three existing sub schemes as its components:
Assistance to Pharmaceutical Industry for Common Facilities (APICF): For strengthening existing pharma cluster capacity through common facilities.
Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS): For MSMEs with proven track record to meet national and international regulatory standards.
Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS): For conducting study/survey reports, awareness programmes, creation of database and promotion of industry.
The APICF will spend Rs. 178.40 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26, PTUAS Rs. 300.10 crore, and PMPDS Rs. 21.50 crore for the same period.
In addition to providing policy coordination and management support for the scheme, DoP will oversee its implementation through the Scheme Steering Committee, whose members include the Financial Advisor, joint secretary (Schemes) of DoP, Drug Controller General of India, and industry representatives.
During a transparent and competitive process, the SSC would engage the services of a third party to act as a bridge and catalyst between them and the beneficiary.
APICF will meet the needs of manufacturing units as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), consisting of at least five pharma units as members, to develop a common facility. Incentives will be limited to 70% of the approved project cost or Rs. 20 crores, whichever is less. The grant-in-aid would be Rs. 20 crores per cluster in Himalayan states and in states of the Northeast Region, or 90 percent of the project cost of common infrastructure facilities, whichever is less.
The DoP guideline also outlines the terms and conditions for utilisation of incentives, eligible activities, project proposals and their components, as well as other details regarding each sub-scheme.
If any budgetary allocation from one component of the scheme is not used during a financial year, it can be applied to the other two components after obtaining approval from the secretary, DoP.
Find the official announcement here: https://pharmaceuticals.gov.in/sites/default/files/Approved%20Guidelines%20of%20scheme%20Strengthening%20of%20Pharmaceutical%20Industries%20%28SPI%29%2011032022.pdf