Bhubaneswar, March 22 -- New Delhi: The government on Saturday announced a Rs 14,000-crore healthcare package that would incentivise production of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and medical devices in the country and reduce dependence on import for critical healthcare needs. Such an initiative would be a big boost to domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs in the country.

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a complete stoppage of import of bulk drug and API to India. This has created a scare that if the coronavirus pandemic is long-drawn, there could be a shortage of drugs in the country. About 80 per cent of bulk drug used in the country is imported.

As per the decision taken by the Cabinet, four schemes under the healthcare pac...