Visakhapatnam: Apart from existing and under-construction pharma units, new manufacturing facilities are not coming up in the city due to lack of proper infrastructure facilities. Recently, the Civil Aviation ministry has started the much-awaited international cargo complex at Visakhapatnam airport. However, the pharma industry may not benefit from the international air cargo operations as there is no cold storage facility available near the airport.
“Pharma companies need cold storage facilities to store their products. Unlike other items, medicines should be preserved carefully until dispatched. International air cargo handling may not help pharma sector without a warehouse at the airport premises,” AP Chambers Safety Committee chairman B. Madhu told this newspaper.
When asked about other problems faced by the sector, he said that the city has reached a saturation point. When compared to other pharma hubs like Hyderabad, the city faces a shortage of skilled manpower. Severe slump in the economy, unnecessary political pressure and strict regulatory norms are the other challenges faced by the companies here.”
A lot of upgradation should take place in the infrastructure to export the pharma products. The number of fire accidents at Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) and other pharma zones is also a major concern for the industry. The city has three main pharma zones – JNPC Parawada, Achyutapuram and Nakkapalli. Pydi Bhimavaram is another important special economic zone (SEZ) in Srikakulam, where pharma majors Dr Reddy’s and Aurobindo have their manufacturing facilities.
