CII hosts ‘Pillars of Protection’ conference in Hyderabad to address safety in pharma manufacturing

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Telangana, hosted the ‘Pillars of Protection: Forging a Safer Future for Pharma and Chemical Manufacturing’ conference on 25 June 2025 in Hyderabad. The event convened regulators, safety professionals, technologists, policy experts, and industry leaders to discuss actionable strategies for enhancing safety and sustainability across pharma and chemical manufacturing operations in India.

Setting the tone for the day, the conference was framed as a collective call to action. It addressed the persistent need for improved risk management practices amid India’s expanding global role in pharmaceutical production. Participants acknowledged that while India is widely recognised as the “pharmacy of the world,” the next step is to build a reputation for leadership in safety and compliance.

To anchor these discussions, the conference focused on four thematic areas, each aimed at encouraging meaningful industry transformation.

The first of these, Safety Protocols and Risk Management, underscored the importance of building strong preventive systems. Speakers emphasised the value of practical training and robust on-site implementation as key to safeguarding lives and critical assets in high-risk manufacturing environments.

Building on this foundation, the second theme—Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Safety—explored how automation, artificial intelligence, and digital tools can improve predictive monitoring and minimise human error. Presenters highlighted real-world applications of these technologies in reducing operational risks and supporting proactive decision-making.

The conversation then moved to Regulatory Compliance and Excellence, where speakers discussed how organisations can move beyond mere adherence to regulation. Instead, the focus was on cultivating a culture of responsibility across operations, aligned with both domestic and international standards of compliance.

Complementing these sessions, the fourth theme—Case Studies on Industry Transformation, offered insight into how proactive safety measures have yielded tangible improvements. These examples were intended to support cross-sector learning and inspire adoption of scalable safety practices.

Throughout the conference, the need for cross-functional engagement remained a recurring theme. Speakers highlighted that safety should no longer be viewed as the sole domain of specialised departments but must be integrated across all functions, from operations and quality control to leadership and policy.

Summarising the conference’s core message, one contributor remarked, “Accidents happen because of unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. That lesson still holds—and it guides the spirit of this initiative.”

The event concluded with a shared understanding that safety must be seen as a strategic imperative. Participants emphasised that long-term business continuity depends not only on compliance but also on embedding trust, accountability, and operational resilience at every level.

As a platform for sector-wide dialogue, Pillars of Protection reinforced the importance of collective responsibility in strengthening India’s pharmaceutical ecosystem. It underscored the need for continuous learning, collaborative practice, and proactive risk management in building safer manufacturing environments.