BENGALURU: The Union Budget has placed biopharmaceutical development at the centre of India’s healthcare strategy, with Karnataka set to benefit as a key hub for advanced care and research.
The Biopharma SHAKTI initiative, with a Rs 10,000 crore outlay over five years, aims to make India a global manufacturing hub for biologics and biosimilars.
“With Bengaluru’s vibrant industrial, clinical and academic ecosystem, the SHAKTI scheme will provide the much-needed impetus for discovery, validation and clinical trials to bring novel biosimilars to the masses democratising access to essential medicines for most Indians,” said Deepak Saini, Professor, Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science.
The initiative seeks to strengthen domestic production with shift towards non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. Experts highlighted the initiative’s potential to reduce dependence on imported drugs, generate employment and help lower healthcare costs.
“This is especially relevant given the growing burden of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, which have now overtaken communicable diseases as leading causes of mortality,” said Dr Sudarshan H Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals.
Industry leaders have welcomed the move, with Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw stating that the initiative -- spanning manufacturing scale-up, global-grade regulation, new NIPER institutions, and a nationwide clinical trials network -- can firmly position India as a global biopharma manufacturing hub.
Long-flagging taxes on cancer drugs have prompted the Union Budget to exempt duties on 17 drugs and seven rare diseases for personal imports, said Dr Santosh K Devdas, HOD and Consultant, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. “Based on past experience, a reduction in drug prices could be seen within two to three months, as pharmaceutical companies typically pass on the benefits announced in the Budget.”
He added that the measure would benefit not only cancer patients but also those suffering from rare and other non-communicable diseases.
The Budget announcement to promote India as a global medical value tourism destination, with the Centre supporting states to set up five regional medical tourism hubs through public-private partnerships, an initiative that could further strengthen Karnataka’s position as a preferred destination for specialised medical care.
Dr Azad Moopen, Founder & Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare, said Bengaluru already attracts a large share of international patients, and this initiative will help us strengthen international-grade services while continuing to meet the healthcare needs of the local population.
