NIPER foundation stone laid by Union Minister Ananth Kumar

GUWAHATI: Union minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ananth Kumar on Saturday laid foundation stone a new permanent campus of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research ( NIPER) in Guwahati.

Kumar said that NIPER, Guwahati would turn out to be the best institute in the country on the same lines as the one at Mohali in Punjab. Kumar said that Government of India would leave no stone unturned to make it the best institute in the country. Kumar said of the seven NIPERs functioning in the country.

Kumar said that the first phase of construction amounting to Rs 160 crore has stared and that the total project cost would be to the tune of Rs 550 crore. “NIPER, Guwahati would soon emerge as the pharmaceutical hub of the North East region. It would also become a hub for integrated medicine ensuring holistic care and treatment,” he added.

Kumar said that Assam endowed with rich biodiversity, flora and fauna, could become the cradle of Ayurveda like Kerala for the entire North East part of the country. Kumar announced that a Generic Centre each would be opened up in 100 hospitals across the State of Assam at a total cost of Rs 25 crore.

He said that a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed with Government of Assam in the second week of June in New Delhi. “The coming up of the Generic Centres would make available medicine to poorer section of the society at prices less than 25 to 30 per cent in comparison to Allopathic medicine. It will help to fight lifestyle diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, cardio-vascular, HIV and AIDS."

The Union Minister said that he had reviewed the functioning of NIPER, Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited at Namrup and Assam Gas Cracker Project and that his ministry would extend all possible support towards these projects.

Secretary, Pharmaceuticals, Dr. VK Subburaj, said India is emerging as a world leader in pharmaceutical sector with exports to 220 countries. “India has emerged as a world leader with exports to 220 countries. There has been a turnover of 2 lakh crore and the Indian pharmaceutical industry is estimated to grow at 15-20 per cent over the next 10 years".

Gogoi said, " it was at our own initiative that the institute came into being in Guwahati. The national institute was set up in 2009 at the initiative of the State Government and it had allotted 89 acres of land for the permanent campus.