Gujarat to get a medical devices units cluster soon

With a number of medical device units mushrooming in the vicinity of Ahmedabad, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is mulling setting up a cluster of the segment.

While the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Ahmedabad is preparing a report on this matter, DoP is planning to rope in IL&FS to conduct a study on feasibility of setting up such a cluster.

“Gujarat used to contribute around 90 per cent to the country’s medical devices business which has now come down to 60 per cent. We have assigned NIPER a study to benchmark these medical device units, based on which we will set up a cluster in Gujarat. With the help of a cluster, we can develop this sector. However, we will be roping in IL&FS to undertake an in-depth study on the feasibility of such a move. We intend to set up a medical devices cluster and provide every kind of support to these units in Gujarat,” said Ashok Kumar, secretary, department of pharmaceuticals, Government of India.

According to Kumar, the report will be prepared by the second half of the current year, following which the cluster will be set up.

Infrastructural support for the units will be provided in terms of common facilities and technical body access, he said.

“For the methodology of the study, only those companies whose products are used within the body systems of humans will be considered as of now. The aim is to find out ways and means to integrate medical device manufacturing units into the mainstream pharma industry,” said Harish Padh, director of NIPER Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, NIPER is also planning to introduce short term courses in GMP, GLP and clinical trials to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) train their workforce.

“We were only running masters programme so far but now intend to take up short term courses as well. Programmes on GMP, GLP and clinical trials will be taken up. The patent awareness issues can be taken up too. The institute intends to initiate a short term course in the preparation of drug master files (DMF) as well,” said Padh.