RANCHI, March 17 -- In a move to overhaul the healthcare infrastructure and tackle unemployment, the Jharkhand government on Monday announced plans to establish a dedicated pharmaceutical manufacturing industry within the state.

Irfan Ansari, minister for health, food supply, and disaster management, stated that this initiative aims to make Jharkhand self-reliant in medicine production while creating a vast job market for the state's youth.

Addressing a gathering of pharmacy students and experts at the National Health Mission (NHM) auditorium-organised by the Pharmacy Council of India and RKDF University-Ansari expressed concern over the current state of medical procurement.

"It is a matter of grave concern that even after two decades ...