Kerala - Alappuzha   

Pharma firm on revival path

ALAPPUZHA: Industries Minister Elamaram Karim has called upon the Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KSDP) to improve its performance and reach a level where it could ensure adequate drug supply to the public health sector and compete with private pharmaceuticals in the general market.

Presiding over the inauguration of the Rs.20 crore-renovation project of the State government for KSDP at Kalavoor on Thursday, Mr. Karim said KSDP was being revived from the brink of closure. However, the government could not continue to prop it up using money from the exchequer.

The firm would have to utilise the revival package and perform on its own, he said. Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy, inaugurating the revival project, said the government was making efforts to wipe out corruption from the public health sector.

The Health Department would cooperate with KSDP, provided the public sector unit ensured adequate drug supply not just for the public health sector, but for the private sector also.

The revival package will be used by the KSDP for a technology makeover, capacity expansion and venture into the modern drug manufacturing field.

The firm was planning to start production of intravenous fluids apart from renovating its tablet, vitamin and injection manufacturing sections.

Efforts would also be made to confirm to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards prescribed by the World Health Organization, KSDP chairman K. Rajagopal and managing director K.G. Ajith Kumar said.

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