Budget may announce R&D sops for pharma – Times of India

MUMBAI: With the coronavirus pandemic stressing the need for innovation more than ever before, there is renewed hope within the pharma sector of a R&D policy being finally announced in the budget this year.
Over the last few months, there have been discussions between the department of pharma and industry bodies over R&D incentives, with the government readying a draft on the issue.
There is speculation about a targeted fund for strengthening knowledge-driven sectors like pharma and IT, and restoring tax benefits on R&D undertaken by companies, being in the works, industry experts told TOI.
Over the last few years, there has been talk about a R&D fund being announced for innovation-driven sectors including pharmaceuticals, but it didn’t see the light of day.
The draft R&D policy finalised by the government highlights funding for innovation for pharma and med-tech, strengthening the R&D infrastructure (creation of innovation hubs like Singapore, Boston, Sanfrancisco), and industry-academic collaboration.
“India, being the pharmacy of the developing world, now needs to move up the value chain. Innovation should be supported as this is going to be fundamental for the healthcare industry,” Sudarshan Jain secretary general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance said.
Besides restoring the weighted average tax deduction of 200% on R&D expenditure, companies setting up innovation hubs should get tax incentives, an industry executive said.
Tech driven-innovative healthcare solutions have played a pivotal role in fighting the Covid crisis. This year’s budget should focus on encouraging these solutions by way of tax benefit/ tax holidays and even establishing a healthcare innovation fund, according to Alok Roy chair, Ficci Health Services Committee and chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals.
This pandemic has also necessitated the need for a more self-reliant India.
The government should protect the domestic manufacturing base by increasing customs duty on import of medical devices to at least 15% from the existing 0-7.5%. Due to low custom duty,
India is importing Rs 46,000 crore medical devices, and is over 80% import dependent, Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator Association of Indian Medical Device Industry said.
For the Indian medtech sector to be viable and sustaining, there has to be a waiver of the duty and cess, releasing sectoral payment dues, to free up the working capital for investments in critical spare and lifesaving equipment.
Healthcare funding through subsidised loans specially in Tier II & III cities need to be provided to reactivate the healthcare infrastructure sector which will further boost other supporting industrie, Roy added.