The announcement by Indian Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman to commit a 137% budget increase for healthcare and a nearly 200% boost for developing the pharma sector instills a high level of optimism in the industry. The allocation of INR 35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccine development and immunization was a much-needed impetus for Atmanirbhar Bharat, as it continues to maintain its global lead in tackling the pandemic. KAISHA Group of Companies has been a crucial contributor in India’s drive against novel Coronavirus by providing medicinal supplies and more importantly, storage of Covid vaccines and other life-saving medication. SCHOTT KAISHA, an Indo-German joint venture leads the Indian market in supplying Type 1 tubular glass vials for vaccine manufacturers in India and abroad. Its sister company, SOVEREIGN Pharma supplies the anti-viral Remdesivir medicine to Cipla under a licensing agreement in India.

This year’s unprecedented increase in budget allocation is further assuring for the pharma industry as it is working to provide for the mammoth task of immunizing 1.3 billion Indians. As the first phase of the vaccine drive continues, SCHOTT KAISHA has today announced a fresh investment to further increase vial production capacity by another 100 million pieces from its manufacturing sites based in Gujarat and Daman. This is in addition to the announced immediate investment of INR 122 crores to increase its vial production capacity by 300 million pieces in a record time period of one year. The company is supplying to 8 active customers and 10 vaccine candidates currents, which includes key players in India and abroad. We are currently producing 1.2 billion vials per annum, which will be increased to 1.5 billion vials by December 2021 and to 1.6 billion vials by mid- 2022.

The Indian healthcare and pharma industries have emerged as a shining example of rising up to the challenge in order to support the country as well as the world during the pandemic. While we collectively supported the pharma supply chain which saw soaring demands, the government’s backing with quick decision-making, boosting the supply chain, and addressing existing loopholes in the ecosystem has shown great results for its vision to make India a global pharmaceutical hub.”