NEW DELHI: The domestic pharmaceutical industry has demanded exemption in income-tax and fiscal incentives in the forthcoming Budget for promoting
research and development (R&D) in the field of drug discovery in India. "We have sought exemption in income-tax under section 80, for promoting R&D in the pharmaceutical sector," Piramal Healthcare Executive Director Swati Piramal said. She said India is lagging behind countries such as Canada and Israel in R&D, which is very worrisome for the domestic pharma industry. "The provision for the exemption for R&D was there till 2007 and we simply want to revive it," Piramal added. Echoing similar sentiments, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance Secretary General D G Shah said, "We are not making any special demand from the government but are only seeking that government must recognise the high risk associated with drug discovery and should provide adequate funding for that." The industry has also demanded a decision on the central drug authority bill, which is pending in Parliament for the last five years. Apex body of drug exporters Pharmaexcil, in its representation to the finance ministry and commerce ministry, has demanded a Rs 1,000-crore fund to support small and medium enterprises for Schedule M compliance (minimum standards set by government for producing drugs) and to meet global regulatory standards. Pharmaexcil Chairman Venkat Jasti said that for innovation led growth, the industry needs to build huge infrastructure to develop human resources, have a proper regulatory mechanism and for having a strong Intellectual Property Regime. "Besides, it needs funding for drug discovery activities. Long-term commitment with a special fund needs to be created," he added. However, another major chamber SPIC has demanded that the government should increase the limit of excise exemption for small scale industries to Rs five crore from the current Rs 1.5 crore.
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