The Hindu Business Line : YSR offers support for pharma varsity

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in conversation with Ms Renuka Datla, Chairperson of local organisation committee of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, at the 57th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress in Hyderabad on Friday . From left are Mr V.C. Nannapaneni, President, IPC; Mr Ponnala Laxmiah, Minister for Major Irrigation; and Dr J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Tourism and Major Industries. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , Dec. 2

RESPONDING positively to the plea of the pharmaceutical industry, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has announced that the Government is ready to provide all the infrastructure facilities, including land of up to 100 acres, for setting up a world-class university for pharmaceutical sciences in Hyderabad.

Addressing delegates at the 57th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress here on Friday, Dr Reddy has asked the pharma industry to come out with a detailed proposal on the university so that the Government could clear it in the ensuing Cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister has asked the industry to bear 50 per cent of the input costs for the first five years for developing the university with a promise that the State Government would meet the balance costs. He has urged the industry to ensure that the university is of world-class standards with major focus on developing research and development skills keeping the needs of pharma sector in view.

He said the infrastructure facilities were required for ensuring robust growth of the pharma industry in the State, which currently contributes one-third of the national bulk drugs production. Of around 80 USFDA approved pharma manufacturing facilities in the country, Andhra Pradesh has 27 of them.

The Chief Minister said the State Government has also initiated measures to prevent the exodus of manufacturing companies in general and pharma companies in particular to hill States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The State Government has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister. As an alternative, the State Government has sought permission for one of the most backward districts from Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra to offer attractive incentives.

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