<p><em>Pfizer had suspended the production at this plant since 2013 and the employees were offered a voluntary retirement scheme, writes <strong>C H Unnikrishnan</strong></em><br><br><br>Pfizer Ltd, the India unit of US drug maker Pfizer Inc, said on Wednesday that it plans to shut down its manufacturing unit located at Thane near Mumbai in two months. The closure of this heritage production facility of Pfizer in India will be effective from 16, September.<br><br>The unit has some 80 employees on its rolls at present. The company had suspended the production at this plant since 2013 and the employees were offered a voluntary retirement scheme.<br><br> The Thane manufacturing plant of Pfizer was commissioned in the sixties and has been a part of Pfizer India’s heritage for over 50 years. During this time, it has been producing a number of medicines for both domestic and international markets.<br><br>"The decision to close the site is based on an assessment its long term viability and its ability to achieve the needed production and the closure will not impact the supply of any of our medicines to patients," Pfizer said in statement on Wednesday.<br><br>The company had offered a generous voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to the workmen at this site last year, upon their request. This was taken up by as many as 132 of the 212 workmen. The remaining 80 workmen have continued to receive full wages, despite plant inactivity, the company said.<br><br>As a part of the closure process, Pfizer has ensured that it will honour its obligations towards requisite compensation mandated by law, for the remaining workmen.<br> </p>
