‘India imported raw material worth `28,528.97 cr for mfg medicines in FY21’

NEW DELHI: India’s import of raw materials to manufacture medicines during the last fiscal year stood at Rs 28,528.97 crore, of which 68 per cent (Rs 19,402.60 crore) came from China, the government on Friday said.

Replying to a query in Lok Sabha, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya noted that most of the imports of the bulk drug/APIs being done in the country are because of economic considerations.

In 2019-20, the total raw materials imports stood at Rs 24,171.78 crore, of which Rs 16,443.10 crore worth of shipments came from China.

Mandaviya noted that the Department of Pharmaceuticals has launched three schemes, including production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks, for promoting domestic manufacturing of drugs including APIs by attracting large investments in the sector to ensure their sustainable domestic supply and thereby reduce India’s import dependence on other countries.