Government of Maharashtra is acting proactively and acquiring land for setting up bulk drug park in tune with national vision of India becoming ‘pharmacy of the world’. In Multimodal International Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) area also, ecosystem is being created for manufacturing of drug and medical equipment, said Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister.

Fadnavis was addressing the valedictory programme of the 72nd Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) on the campus of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) here on Sunday. Jagannath Shinde, President of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists; Dr Subhash Chaudhari, Vice-Chancellor of RTMNU; T V Narayana, President of Indian Pharmaceutical Association and General IPC Association; Dr Rajendra Kakade, Advisor to AICTE Chairman; Atul Mandlekar, Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 72nd IPC; Vadlamudi Rao, Dr Milind Umekar, Dr Pankaj Bector; Prof Pramod Khedekar, Dr Prakash Itankar, Ravleen Singh Khurana, Nishikant Raut, Dr Chandrashekhar Doifode and other dignitaries shared the dais on this occasion.

Lauding the success of the 72nd IPC and especially appreciating the presence of students, Fadnavis said that India had taken great strides in pharmaceutical sector, thanks to the efforts of the scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical industry, and other stakeholders under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We need more scientific innovations in drug manufacturing. Also, we must create more intellectual property, and reduce dependence on import of raw materials,” he said.

In his speech, Fadnavis referred to COVID-19 period. “During plague pandemic, India had to wait for vaccines for six years under the British Raj. But, during COVID-19 period, India was well ahead of the curve. For development of vaccine, India needed raw material. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India supplied hydroxychloroquine to the US, which lifted ban on supply of raw materials only for India. Our capacity to invent and manufacture vaccine was tested and we emerged successfully,” he explained. India exported 30 crore vaccine doses to 106 countries and saved many lives across the world, he added with pride.

Reiterating commitment towards boosting India’s efforts to become ‘pharmacy of the world’, he assured to back

the resolutions moved at the 72nd IPC. T V Narayana, in his speech, said that the 72nd IPC held at Nagpur had broken al records of scientific content as well as arrangements. Shinde, Narayana, Dr Chaudhari, Dr Kakde felicitated Fadnavis on this occasion. Fadnavis also felicitated Atul Mandlekar, Prof Pramod Khedekar, Dr Chandrashekhar Doifode, Dr Milind Umekar, Dr Prakash Itankar, Dr Nishikant Raut, Ravleen Singh Khurana of the LOC.

Earlier, Dr Doifode made introductory remarks. Dr Dadasaheb Kokare read out the scientific report of the meet. Prof Manish Aglawe and Prof Niyamat Chimthanawala conducted the proceedings of the valedictory programme. Dr Brijesh Taksande, Dr Dinesh Biyani, Dr Nandkishor Kotangale, Dr Nishant Awandekar, Dr Rita Wadatkar, Rashmi Barapatre and others worked hard to make the event successful.