The origins of India’s pharmaceutical industry could well be traced into the State of West Bengal, when in the year 1901 the visionary scientist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray laid the foundation stone of Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. (BCPW), which later became Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Today, BCPL has 4 factories, of which 2 are in West Bengal. Currently, about 90 per cent of the state’s 427 drug makers belong to the small-scale sector.

West Bengal Pharmaceutical and Phytochemical Development Corporation (WBPPDC) has offered the state 55 acres on which it can build infrastructure and a common-facility centre for small and medium drug units. Kolkata is also the home to the country’s main Patent office.

Bengal could soon have a pharmaceutical hub modeled on the lines of software technology parks. The proposal tentatively to be called a pharmaceutical industry complex is at an embryonic stage but the aim is clear to help small medicine makers to meet stringent guidelines under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “good manufacturing practices”.

The spadework for the complex could start with the Pharmaceutical Expo and Indian Pharmaceutical Congress. The annual event, organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will help local entrepreneurs improve their awareness about technology, equipment, input availability and infrastructure.

BCPL has 4 factories out of which two are in West Bengal, one in Mumbai and one in Kanpur. It has sales outlets in 11 cities, and a wide distribution network all over the country and abroad with more than 1,500 distributors. The company has a good infrastructure and huge surplus land. BCPL now boasts of wide range of offerings including industrial chemicals, APIs, perfumeries, toiletries, hospitals and surgical equipment, sera, vaccine and fire extinguisher among others Dey’s medical was formed in 1941 and it has now got 3 factories at Kolkata and 1 in Ahmedabad. They produce many forms of drugs like, capsules, tablets, granules, powders, oral liquid, drops, injectules, transfusions, ointments etc. and all important categories of medicines.

Although West Bengal has tow of the oldest drag manufacturing companies in India but ot many other notable companies are present in the state. But it has got huge potential since India pharmaceutical sector is expected to grow at 11% CGPR over the next 5 years and hit Rs. 50 billion by 2010. And only 2% - 3% is produced and distributed through organized sector. Pure retailing of pharmaceutical goods now stands at Rs. 280-300 million and institutional sales makes about Rs. 4-5 billion.

The State Government is adopting a number of policy measures in order to accelerate the growth of the pharmaceutical industry & to make it internationally competitive.