Strategic leap toward pharmaceutical self-reliance in the age of shifting India-China ties
Sunil Chadha
Una: India’s ambitious push for pharmaceutical self-reliance is set to take a major leap forward with the construction of the Bulk Drug Park at Haroli in Una district of Himachal Pradesh.
Designed to significantly reduce India’s overdependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), this park is expected to transform not just Himachal Pradesh’s industrial profile but also the nation’s strategic capacity in drug manufacturing.
India currently imports more than 65 per cent of its API requirements from China, a figure that rises to 90 per cent for some essential, life-saving medicines. This reliance has long posed a challenge to India’s health security, particularly during geopolitical tensions or supply chain disruptions.
With annual API consumption valued at around Rs 40,000 crore, any fluctuation in diplomatic or trade relations with China places India’s pharmaceutical supply at considerable risk.
Strategic project with national impact
To tackle this vulnerability, the Government of India launched a major initiative under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ in 2020. As part of this plan, three Bulk Drug Parks were approved — in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh — to boost domestic production of critical APIs.
By 2026, once all three parks are fully operational, India aims to become self-reliant in at least 41 key APIs, potentially reducing Chinese imports by up to 40 per cent and saving over Rs 10,000 crore in foreign exchange annually. More importantly, this move will fortify India’s pharmaceutical supply chains and enhance national preparedness in public health emergencies.
Himachal’s Haroli at heart of India’s pharma push
Himachal Pradesh, which already contributes nearly 35 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical production, will now play a central role in reshaping the future of Indian pharma.
The Bulk Drug Park in Haroli, personally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a flagship project that holds both economic and strategic significance.
Apart from securing critical raw material supply, the park is poised to become a game changer for the local economy, attracting significant investments, spurring technological development, and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. For Una district, this development promises a prominent spot on India’s industrial map.
