Bilcare plans Rs 100cr clinical training spend

Pharmaceutical packaging solutions provider Bilcare is investing Rs 100 crore to mark its foray into medical education sector by setting up academies for clinical research spread across south east Asia.

The company would set up 25 academies to provide training in the field of clinical research, eight of which would come up in India.

"Our aim is to address the manpower needs of pharma and biotech firms in the country and we are in the process on investing Rs 100 crore in 25 academies for clinical research education," Mohan Bhandari, MD, Bilcare said.

He said the first such academy has started operations in Pune, Maharashtra while the second would come up in Bangalore by the end of this calendar year.

"We would set up eight academies in India while the remaining would come up abroad. Our first academy outside India would be set up in Singapore by early next year," Bhandari said.

Bilcare has tied up with Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) to provide diplomas and degrees in clinical research and is also looking at starting a full-fledged medical degree through tie-ups with universities.

The company's academies would have 200 seats each.

"In the near future, we are looking at a tie up with a university to offer a degree in medicine and are at the initial stage of discussions with a university," he said.