Koxhi : The Industries and Health Department will jointly design project for manufacture of medicines and medical equipments required by the state, said Minister P. Rajeev on Sunday To do this, the Health Secretary and the Managing Directors of KMSCL, and KSDPL shall form a Special Committee, said the minister.
Presently, domestic production meets only 10 percent of medical supplies required by the state meaning, 90 percent of the prescriptions and equipments are bought from states outside. It is proposed for KMSCL Kerala Medical Services Corporation and agencies under the Industries Department to jointly start manufacturing companies to meet domestic needs entirely in state. The goal is to make affordable medicines and healthcare equipment available to the health sector along with creating more job opportunities for the people, said the minister.
KMSCL already has a policy that prioritises purchases from Public Sector Units state and small business units in the state. The proposed joint venture aims to make greater good on that policy, said P Rajeev.
Several investors have shown interest toward government’s upcoming Pharma Park and projects shall be chalked out to promote their initiatives. The investors’ community has also signaled interest for government’s Life Science Park slated to house enterprises manufacturing medical equipments. With the Health Sector lending priority for such domestically manufactured products, the drug and equipment industry is set to grow, said the minister.
