The Madras Medical College introduced the first pharmacy course on the Indian subcontinent more than a century ago. Chennai also has the country's first pharma park, which was built in 1978 at Alathur on the OMR. Now, 45 years later, Tamil Nadu is attempting to reclaim its dominance in the drug and pharmaceutical industry, a burgeoning industry with enormous growth potential. A 350-acre medical devices park is being developed at the SIPCOT industrial complex in Oragadam, Kancheepuram district, with a potential investment of '3,500 crore.
A pharma park is being built in Tindivanam, Villupuram district, with the goal of producing drugs and pharmaceutical products worth '2,000 crore per year. The pharmaceutical industry is bullish that the state can attract investments to the tune of $10billion as the size of the Indian pharma industry is projected to touch $130 billion by 2030. At present, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry share 6% ($3 billion) of India’s pharmaceutical market of $50 billion, of which $25 billion is from exports. Between the two, the former accounts for 95% of the pharmaceutical market size. J Jayaseelan, chairman, Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, says an exclusive park for producing active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)/bulk drugs and research are the primary areas that the state needs to focus on.
“A dedicated API park on 200 acres can manufacture bulk drugs worth `2,000 crore to `3,000 crore. S V Veeramani, chairman, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, set up by the Union ministry of commerce and industry, says Tamil Nadu has several advantages to be a good investment destination. “The park at Tindivanam will boost manufacturing of pharmaceutical formulations,” he says, adding that the state’s pharma entrepreneurs also need to become more adventurous and enterprising.
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