Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated on Saturday that Gujarat is at the centre-point of the pharmaceutical industries in the country. With 6% of the country’s total land area, the state has become the leader in India’s pharmaceutical sector by contributing 33% to the country’s production.
The CM said the medicines produced by the pharmaceutical sector in Gujarat had earned people’s complete trust and confidence.
“It is also the leader in the production of medical devices. The State produces more than 70% of India’s cardiac stents and 60% of orthopaedic implants. Emphasising the high standards, Gujarat has added to the sector. The process of setting up the state-of-the-art bulk drugs park near Bharuch in collaboration with the Union Government is progressing in full swing,” he said.
Not only that, but Gujarat has also met the demand for medicines during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from drugs, the state has played a key role in vaccine and API manufacturing, the CM added.
The Chief Minister also released a book, “Six Decades of Success Story of the Food and Drug Control Administration in Gujarat”.
“Our government is vigilant regarding the quality of medicines, and it does not want to interfere with the life-saving matters of medicine. As a result of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana and the Deen Dayal Jan Aushadhi stores, anyone can get affordable quality medicines.” the CM said.
Mansukh Mandaviya called upon the pharmaceutical manufacturers to serve the country well. “Just as the soldiers provide an exceptional service to the country by protecting our borders, I firmly believe that you will do an unparalleled job of public service by producing affordable quality medicines for all the citizens,” he said.
He congratulated the Gujarat Government for organising the pre-event. He said this Summit would be important for the forthcoming 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, first launched in 2003 by the then Chief Minister and present Prime Minister, Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi, through knowledge-sharing.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister has adopted a holistic approach for the development of all sectors. That is why he has entrusted the charge of the health and pharmaceutical sectors to a single minister for faster decision-making and accelerated growth.
India has strong infrastructure facilities and foreign countries have reposed their faith in the country, which will help the research and production in the pharmaceutical sector to move further ahead. He also appealed to the global investors to invest through partnerships at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2022 to increase manufacturing and exports.
Shri Mandaviya added that the steps taken by the Hon’ble Prime Minister by linking the health sector with development for building a healthy society have yielded astonishing growth. The Union Government has launched the Aayushman Bharat Yojana to provide free treatment for critical illness to poor families.
As a result, low-income families get free treatments in the same hospitals where wealthy families go. Nearly 10 crore families in the country are benefiting from this. “We have set up about 90 lakh health and wellness centres across the country and will complete the remainder of the targeted 1.50 lakh centres in the next two years. At the same time, to ensure the availability of doctors, 80,000 MBBS seats have been added and about 1 lakh seats will be available soon.
He said the National Health Mission plans to build one AIIMS hospital in every state. As many as 22 AIIMS are currently operating in the country.
Shri Mandaviya informed that about 8,500 Jan Aushadhi Kendras had been set up to provide affordable and quality medicines. He said 40% of the generic drugs made in India are used in the United States. “Today, the contribution of generic medicines is 8% in the country. To move forward in the pharmaceutical sector in the country and increase production, the Union Government has adopted a transparent policy with simplified approvals. Today, there are 10,000 MSMEs producing medicines in the country,” he added.
He commended India’s efforts to meet the needs of the country and the world by becoming Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “We have helped over 150 countries by developing and exporting vaccines in a short duration during the Covid- 19 pandemic. It is a matter of pride that India has both workforce and brain-power, which was effectively channelized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which helped India protect the world against the pandemic,” the Union Health Minister said.
