PIB news, Sept 10, 2009
Historical Background :
Ever since 1991, when the NIPER, Mohali was set up there is an exponential growth of pharmaceutical industry. In 1991, the total production of pharmaceuticals in the country, including exports, was to the tune of approximately Rs.5000 crores. It has grown to approximately Rs.80,000 crores, including exports, in 2008-09. With the exponential growth of pharmaceutical industry, the demand for highly trained workforce for Research and Development in this sector, etc., has gone up considerably. Besides this various multinationals are setting up their R&D Centres for pre-clinical as well as clinical R&D in India. This will create additional demand for highly trained workforce. Further there is an acute shortage of faculty in the pharma schools. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, Punjab, alone cannot cope with the increased demand of trained personnel, research and development and other specialized services required by industry.
While setting up NIPER, Mohali, a high power Special Committee was set up in 1987 by Ministry of HRD to study the available facilities at that time, present and future requirement of manpower in pharmaceutical science and related areas and recommend establishment of NIPER. The Committee had recommended in 1987 that to achieve excellence in pharmaceutical sciences in the next one or two decades, there was a need to start similar Institutions at the national level, at least one each of the zone or regions to cater to the pressing demand of the pharmaceutical Industry and profession. National Manufacturing Competitive Council (NMCC) recommended setting up of additional NIPER like Institutes in other part of the country. Working group on Drugs and Pharmaceuticals constituted by the Planning Commission recommended setting up of at least five NIPERs like Institutes in the 11th Five Year Plan.
The Expert Committee in 1987 had also examined the financial implications of the proposal and had recommended suitable management system for such Institutes including linkages with user sector, R&D Organisations and other continuing education programmes. Committee had felt that there was a strong case for opening a number of Institutions of higher learning and research in pharmaceutical Science and Technology.
Present Status
The Union Cabinet has given in principle approval for setting up of six National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Hajipur (Bihar), Kolkata (West Bengal), Rae Bareli (U.P.) and Guwahati (Assam), in August 2007. With this the Government has fulfilled the demand of pharmaceutical industry to meet its long drawn demand of highly skilled trained manpower. This would also help in providing better healthcare to people in the long run. With the opening of six more NIPERs there would be seven NIPERs in the country. These NIPERs would award Masters & Doctoral Degrees in different streams of pharmaceutical sciences and would give more emphasis on R&D activities of pharmaceutical industry. NIPERs would be equipped with R&D infrastructure of International standards and having various specializations suited to the needs of the Industry. The students would be exposed to cutting edge technology to meet the newer challenges of the industry. The intake of students in various NIPERs would be about 200-250 each and after all the seven NIPERs become functional about 1500 highly skilled trained manpower would be available for pharma industry annually.
Four new NIPERs at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Hajipur started working with the help of Mentor Institutes at these places and classes were started from the academic session 2007-08. NIPER, Guwahati & NIPER Rae Bareli have been started through Mentor Institutes in 2008-09. The students are being selected through common admission test conducted by NIPER S.A.S. Nagar in association with these new NIPERs.
An Apex Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Pharma) has been formed to oversee the smooth functioning of new NIPERs till the Board of Governors of each new NIPER is formed. Likewise, State Level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of an Officer of the level of Principal Secretary of the concerned State Government have been formed for each NIPER to oversee the functioning of these new NIPERs.
Meanwhile, consultants M/s. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Pvt. Ltd. have been appointed by the Department for preparation of Detailed Project Report for each new NIPER incorporating the element of Public Private Partnership (PPP) wherever possible and to suggest the areas of specialization. The Consultants have submitted the Report, which has been accepted by the Government. The estimated cost on each NIPER as worked by consultant would be approximately Rs.330 crores including PPP element. In addition, about 100 acres of land are required for the project, which is to be provided by the concerned State Governments free of cost. Each of these NIPERs would take about 4-5 years time to be fully established. Based on the detailed project report submitted by the consultant proposal would be submitted to Expenditure Finance Committee/CCEA for consideration/approval.
Benefits:
With the approval of the Cabinet as of now the benefits would be as under:
i)The `in principle’ approval for organizing the classes in six new NIPERs was given by the Union Cabinet in August, 2007 only for two years 2007-08 and 2008-09. With the present approval of Cabinet, the present system of operation of the six new NIPERs would be possible for next two years so that the proposal is finally considered/approved by EFC/CCEA.
ii)With the appointment of Director, it would be feasible to tie up with the private partners. The working of NIPERs on running the Masters and Doctoral programmes would be more effective.
iii)With launching of Doctoral programme the students would get more avenues to continue work on R&D in respect of doing discovery and Drug Development.
The scheme is expected to yield the following benefits:
i.Highly trained manpower in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, who would be able to contribute their knowledge to the National economy by way of both domestic production & exports; with around 1,500 personnel being trained annually. This is also the annual shortfall estimated by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association in terms of trained manpower;
ii.Provide avenues for research and development in pharmaceutical sciences for development of modern medicine, which will allow the pharmaceutical industry to generate revenues beyond the traditional bulk and generic drugs;
iii.Help reduce National level dependencies on imported pharmaceutical products and intellectual property costs, making medicine more affordable to the public-at-large;
iv. Help doing business with international investors in the pharmaceutical business on more equitable and profitable terms.
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