New Delhi, July 29 (KNN) The government is keen in investing on research and development required for expansion of the pharmaceutical sector in the country, also a number of schemes are being carried out to support the projects, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) informed Lok Sabha.

The Minister informed that Department of Science and Technology (DST) under Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP), has been supporting R&D projects in modern Indian system of medicines.

The main aim of the program is to synergise the strengths of publicly funded R&D institutions and Indian Pharmaceutical Industry.  Also financial assistance in the form of soft loans is being provided for pharma industrial project.

Citing statistics the Minister informed that in the current fiscal 2017-18, the government has already dispatched funds worth 66.788 crores to CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow.

Briefing about  the work by the organization, the Minister informed that Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has been carrying out R&D activities in the domain of drugs and pharmaceuticals with special focus on affordable healthcare. (With PIB Inputs) (KNN/ DA)