New Delhi, Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Bill to accord 'institutions of national importance' status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research, strengthen their functioning and stress on research.
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed by voice vote paving way for the Bill to get Presidential assent.
Lok Sabha has already passed the proposed legislation.
The Bill seeks to amend the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998 which was enacted to declare the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research at Mohali, Punjab to be an institute of national importance.
Apart from elevating the status of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raebareli the Bill has rationalised the size of Board of Governors of each institute to 12 from present strength of 23.
In order to coordinate the activities of all the institutes, the Bill also provides for a Council.
Replying to the debate on the Bill, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that some of the suggestions given by the members are already part of the legislation and some of them would be considered while framing the rules.
Participating in the debate, Neeraj Dangi of Congress suggested that there must be representation from SC/ST community in the Board of Governors.
In his reply, the Minister said that SC/ST and women representation would be there in the key panels.
Mandaviya noted that other institutions of national importance such as IITs have 12-13 members in the governing body and therefore on those lines the size of the Board of Governors in NIPER has been reduced to 12.
Dangi also suggested that the combined annual intake in seven National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research should be increased from 1,185 considering the huge population of the country.
"The combined annual intake is currently 1,185 intake which includes 1,000 PG (Post Graduate) students and185 PhD students. Considering the huge population, the annual intake of NIPER should be increased," the Congress MP said.
Speaking on the bill, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav also wanted inclusion of persons from SC/ST and OBC community in the governing body to protect the interest of students coming from these categories.
NCP MP Fauzia Khan stressed on spending more on research and innovation in the pharma industry.
"Research is our weak area. Research culture should be promoted in the country. India is a country with lowest investment in research and innovation," she said.
L Hanumanthaiah of Congress Party noted that the proposed Council has been empowered with excessive power which needs a look.
"This comprises on institute's autonomy," he said.
BSP member Ramji also demanded giving representation to SC/ST and OBC community in the Board of Governors.
As many as 21 members from across the Treasury bench and Opposition participated in the debate which remained uninterrupted, a far cry from the previous days when frequent protests marred the business of the House.
As he replied to the debate, Health Minister highlighted the steps taken by the government to improve health infrastructure in the country. He noted that the government had given health security to the extent of Rs 5 lakh to 10 crore families.
He stressed on the need to spread awareness about generic medicines noting that as many as 12-15 lakh people go to Jan Aushadhi Kendras every day for taking medicines.
"Today, many habitual diseases have increased for which permanent medicines have to be taken. If one has to take medicines permanently and if they are not available at cheaper prices and the poor have to buy medicines worth Rs 3,000-4000 every month then education of children in the family gets affected," the Minister said.
He also said that there is a phobia that expensive medicines are good medicines and hence the government launched awareness drive for generic medicines.
The Minister stated that government has fixed the ceiling price of over 1,000 medicines sold in the country.