AIOCD Hails Union Budget 2026 as Patient-Centric Roadmap for Pharma Growth
New Delhi: The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has welcomed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a patient-centric and progressive roadmap that strengthens India's pharmaceutical ecosystem while prioritising affordable healthcare.
In a statement, AIOCD said the Budget presented by the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister places a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and patient welfare. According to the organisation, the proposals will not only reinforce India’s standing as a global pharmaceutical hub but also improve access to safe, quality, and affordable medicines for the common patient.
Expressing gratitude to the Government, J. S. Shinde, President, and Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary, highlighted the proposal to grant complete exemption from Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on 36 life-saving medicines used in cancer and other serious diseases. AIOCD described the move as a sensitive and humane decision that would significantly reduce treatment costs and make critical therapies more affordable for patients.
The organisation also welcomed the inclusion of 37 new medicines and 13 new programmes under patient assistance initiatives, stating that these measures clearly demonstrate the Government’s commitment to placing patient welfare at the highest priority.
AIOCD noted that the Budget provides strong impetus to Ayurveda and bio-pharma manufacturing through the announcement of three dedicated Ayurvedic AIIMS and the establishment of national-level testing laboratories for Ayurvedic medicines. In addition, the launch of the five-year Biopharma SHAKTI programme with a proposed investment of ₹10,000 crore aims to build a robust ecosystem for biologics and biosimilar manufacturing.
The initiative is expected to train one lakh specialised healthcare professionals over the next five years, strengthen the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, and position India as a global hub for both bio-pharma and traditional medicine production, thereby enhancing the country’s competitiveness in high-technology medicines.
Further, the proposal to establish three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and upgrade existing institutions is expected to provide fresh momentum to pharmaceutical education, quality research, innovation, and skilled manpower development, while strengthening collaboration between industry and academia.
AIOCD also welcomed the announcement of a nationwide network of over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites, which is expected to boost innovation-driven research and enhance India’s presence on the global clinical research map. The special emphasis on drug discovery and R&D incentives was termed a decisive step towards transforming India into an innovation-driven pharmaceutical economy.
On behalf of the organisation, AIOCD expressed sincere appreciation to the Hon’ble Finance Minister and the Government of India for presenting what it described as a balanced, visionary, and people-centric Budget, stating that it would usher in renewed confidence for the pharmaceutical industry, the healthcare ecosystem, and millions of patients across the country.
