To be inaugurated on February 23, the centre will offer comprehensive solutions.
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali has launched an exclusive centre for pharma SMEs, SME Pharma Centre. The centre will assist these units in drug formulation, product stability and proper documentation procedures. The centre will also cater to the manpower requirement of these units. The facility is likely to benefit 5,000-odd drug makers across the country.
Industrialists said the centre would be especially beneficial for the 900-odd units in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh due to their proximity to the institute. “The centre will definitely benefit pharma units in SME sector as they would have access to the latest technology, trained manpower and good manufacturing practices,” said Jagdeep Singh, general secretary, Small Pharmaceutical Industry Confederation.
“The SME Pharma Centre is ready and it will be inaugurated by Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ramvilas Paswan on February 23,” said P Rama Rao, director, NIPER.
“There is a severe crunch of trained manpower for SMEs engaged in pharmaceuticals. Initially, people will be trained to work on the machinery and the equipment that are used on a daily basis in the industry. Some grounding will also be laid as to the best manufacturing practices. Then, the units will also be provided technological support. The centre will also be able to troubleshoot any queries, ” he added.
Rao said NIPER would charge a nominal amount for providing these services. Part of the expenses would be reimbursed by the central government.
The institute will also offer analytical and testing services to these enterprises. NIPER centres that deal with instrumentation, safety pharmacology, pharmacoinformatics, bio-availability and technology development is preparing to offer these services. Several leading pharma companies are already utilising the technology development facility and research labs at NIPER.
