Key Details
The review suggests that India’s pharmaceutical policy is increasingly pursuing a dual objective: widening access to affordable medicines while building domestic capabilities in higher-value segments such as biologics, biosimilars, and medical technologies.
Area | Progress Reported |
|---|---|
Jan Aushadhi Network | Expanded from about 84 Kendras in 2014 to over 19,200 Kendras |
Consumer Savings | More than ₹40,000 crore in estimated savings on medicine purchases |
Pharmaceutical PLI | ₹42,695 crore investment generating ₹3.43 lakh crore in sales |
Medical Device PLI | ₹1,136 crore investment generating ₹29,403 crore in sales |
Employment | More than 1.13 lakh jobs under Pharma PLI and 6,800+ under Medical Device PLI |
Industrial Infrastructure | Bulk Drug Parks approved in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh |
Medical Device Parks | Being developed in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh |
Biopharma SHAKTI | ₹10,000 crore programme to support biologics, biosimilars, research and clinical infrastructure |
Regulatory Capacity | Expansion of CDSCO scientific review systems and 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites planned |
Summary
Affordable Medicine Access Has Expanded Rapidly
The review highlights the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) from around 84 Kendras in 2014 to more than 19,200 outlets today. According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the network has generated estimated savings of over ₹40,000 crore by improving access to lower-cost generic medicines, while extending coverage into underserved regions including the North East and Jammu & Kashmir.
Manufacturing Capacity Is Being Built Through Incentives and Industrial Clusters
Alongside medicine access, the government has sought to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical and medical-device production. The Pharmaceutical PLI Scheme has attracted nearly ₹42,700 crore in investments and generated cumulative sales exceeding ₹3.4 lakh crore, while the Medical Devices PLI Scheme has supported investments of over ₹1,100 crore. Bulk Drug Parks and Medical Device Parks are being developed to reduce production costs, improve supply-chain resilience, and lower dependence on imported inputs.
Biopharma SHAKTI Signals a Shift Towards Innovation-Led Growth
A key announcement is the launch of Biopharma SHAKTI, a ₹10,000 crore programme focused on biologics, biosimilars, clinical research, and advanced therapeutics. The initiative includes strengthening NIPER institutions, expanding clinical-trial infrastructure, and enhancing scientific review capacity within CDSCO. Together, these measures indicate a policy shift from pharmaceutical volume and affordability towards higher-value innovation and research capabilities.
A Broader Pharmaceutical Transformation
Taken together, the review suggests that India’s pharmaceutical strategy is evolving across three fronts: expanding affordable access, strengthening manufacturing self-reliance, and building advanced biopharmaceutical capabilities. The sector is increasingly being positioned not only as a public-health priority but also as a strategic pillar of industrial and technology policy.
Policy Relevance
Improved access to affordable medicines: The continued expansion of the Jan Aushadhi network is widening the availability of lower-cost generic medicines across urban and rural India.
A larger domestic manufacturing base: Production-linked incentive schemes are helping scale pharmaceutical and medical-device manufacturing while attracting private investment into the sector.
Greater supply-chain resilience: Bulk Drug Parks and domestic production initiatives seek to reduce dependence on imported APIs and other critical healthcare inputs.
A move up the pharmaceutical value chain: Biopharma SHAKTI signals a growing policy emphasis on biologics, biosimilars, and other research-intensive therapeutic products.
Stronger innovation and regulatory ecosystems: Investments in clinical-trial infrastructure, scientific review capacity, and pharmaceutical education institutions aim to support advanced drug development.
Healthcare as an industrial strategy priority: The review reflects an approach that treats pharmaceuticals and medical technologies not only as public-health assets but also as drivers of manufacturing, innovation, and economic growth.
Relevant Question for Stakeholders: How can Biopharma SHAKTI accelerate the development of a domestic biosimilars ecosystem while ensuring that clinical-trial and regulatory capacities keep pace with innovation?
Follow the Full News Here: Department of Pharmaceuticals Reports Twelve Years of Decisive Growth