GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.505
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24-02-2009
SOPHISTICATED INSTRUMENT IN SMALL SCALE PHARMA UNITS
505. SHRI UDAY SINGH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) the steps being taken by the Government to fund sophisticated instruments to small scale pharma units for improving the quality of medicines in the country;
(b) the details of research projects funded by the Government through national laboratories for small scale pharma units year-wise during the last three years;
(c) the details and value of instruments that are non-functional for more than six months in various Government aided scientific laboratories in the country; and
(d) the reaction of the Government thereto and remedial measures being taken in this regard?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under a Plan scheme "Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP)" has been supporting setting up of national facilities with state-of-the-art sophisticated instruments on pharma sector in national laboratories and academic institutions to cater the needs of pharma industries including the small scale pharma units for improving the quality of medicines in the country. Upto 2007-08, 35 such national facilities in areas like bioavailability, toxicology, safety pharmacology, bioequivalence, neuro-toxicity, pharmacovigilance, combinatorial natural products, herbo-metallic preparations, animal house for pre-clinical toxicology, Bio-safety Level 3 & 4 etc. have been established. In addition, 82 research projects having joint partnership with industries including the small scale pharma units have also been sanctioned during this period. These projects also have enabled the institutions to procure a number of sophisticated instruments.
(b) During 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, 14 joint collaborative projects with industry were sanctioned to national labs./academic institutions in which 6 projects costing Rs.794.00 lakhs pertained to small scale pharma units.
(c) & (d): There is no database available centrally on the status of equipments commissioned in various scientific laboratories. However, under Instrumentation Development Programme of DST, trainings to technicians on repairs and maintenance of scientific instruments are organized through specialized institutions like Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi etc. to maintain and upkeep of such instruments.