Profile The pharmaceutical unit develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices. The Indian pharmaceutical sector has come a long way, being almost non existent before 1970 to a prominent provider of healthcare products, meeting almost 95 per cent of the country's pharmaceuticals needs. The Industry today is in the front rank of Indias science based industries with wide ranging capabilities in the complex field of drug manufacture and technology. It ranks very high in the third world, in terms of technology, quality and range of medicines manufactured. From simple headache pills to sophisticated antibiotics and complex cardiac compounds, almost every type of medicine is now made indigenously. Benefits Pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing vaccines to prevent individuals from catching diseases and to strengthen their immune systems. They activate and enhance the efficiency of the human immune system to help prevent infections. These preventive measures are low priced, constantly effective and easy to store. These vaccines can be carried and transported from one place to another with ease. A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease. Market Scenario The Indian Pharmaceutical sector is highly fragmented with more than 20,000 registered units. It has expanded drastically in the last two decades. The leading 250 pharmaceutical companies control 70% of the market, with market leader holding nearly 7% of the market share. It is an extremely fragmented market with severe price competition and government price control. The pharmaceutical industry in India meets around 70% of the countrys demand for bulk drugs, drug intermediates, pharmaceutical formulations, chemicals, tablets, capsules, orals and injectables. There are about 250 large units and about 8000 Small Scale Units, which form the core of the pharmaceutical industry in India (including 5 Central Public Sector Units). Cost Estimation: Capacity : 15 Lakh Tablets/day 15 Lakh Capsules/day 25000 Syrup Bottles/day 20000 Ointment Tubes/day Plant and Machinery : 385 Lakh Total capital Investment : 3248 Lakh Rate of return : 104% Break Even Point : 46%