印度制药行业如何支持医疗保健的可负担性

India’s pharmaceutical industry is often called the “pharmacy of theworld.” It supplies affordable, high-quality medicines both home andabroad. The sector has grown into a global powerhouse. It nowaccounts for a large share of India’s manufacturing and exports. Forexample, it ranks 3rd globally by volume of drugs produced and 14thby value. It contributes ~1.72% to India’s GDP. The industry drivesforeign exchange earnings through medicines and vaccines. In FY24,India’s drug exports reached ~Rs. 2,35,683 crore (US$ 27billion). In2023, it generated ~Rs. 1,65,851 crore (US$19billion) in tradesurplus. It also supports millions of jobs. In total, ~2.7 million peoplework in pharmaceuticals directly or indirectly. All thesecontributions help make healthcare more affordable and available. India supplies 20% of the global demand for generics. Its generics andvaccines reach more than 200 countries. Millions of global patientsrely on Indian-made medicines because of their low cost.Domestically, the industry has helped millions access essentialtreatments cheaply. It provides the medicines used in governmenthealth programmes and private hospitals alike. HISTORICALDEVELOPMENT OFINDIA’S PHARMA SECTOR and expanding exports. In those years,Indiaemerged as a leading globalsupplier of affordable medicines, helpingto treat diseases like HIV/AIDS with low-cost generics. The Indian pharmaceutical industry hasal o n g h i s t o r y,w h i c h w a s o n l ymodernised after independence. Initially,Indiadepended on foreign companiesandimported medicines.When Indiagained independence in 1947, the pharmaindustry was small and technologicallyunderdeveloped. The industry graduallyaccumulatedcapacity over the nextdecades.The turning points were theDrug Policy of 1978 and the Patents Actof 1970. They eliminated drug patents,andIndian companies were able toproduce generic versions of older drugs.Thispolicy made medicines muchcheaperand let domestic companiesgrow. By the 2010s, India was well known as the“pharmacyof the world”.It rankedglobally behind only China and USA involumeterms.It built world-classmanufacturing facilities and an industryecosystem. Generics and vaccines madein India saved money for patients at homeand abroad. For example, Indian firmssuppliedlife-saving HIV drugs andvaccines that earned India praise for itsrole in global health. In recent years, growth has continued.The Indian pharma market was valued at~Rs. 4,80,095 crore (US$ 55 billion) in2 0 2 3 .I nd u s t r y a s s o c i a t i o n s a ndgovernment reports project it will growtoRs.10,47,480-11,34,770 crore(US$ 120-130 billion) by 2030. Exportshave been growing steadily, reaching Rs.2,35,683 crore (US$ 27 billion) in 2023.This growth reflects decades of capacitybuilding. India’s status as a major genericsmakeris now firmly established.Theindustry’shistory from traditionalpractices to a modern powerhouse showshow far it has come. The actual change was in the 1980s and1990s. The industry was modernised andopenedto international trade in thatperiod.New processes and qualitys t a n d a r d sw e r e i m p l e me n t e d i ncompanies.In 1991,the governmentopenedits economy,and this enabledi n c r e a s e dp r i v a te i n v e s t me nt i npharmaceuticals.Indian firms beganexporting drugs. By the early 2000s, theindustry had gained strong momentum.It was meeting rising domestic demand Private companies also help. Many firmsproduce generic drugs and biosimilars.Generic versions of off-patent drugs costmuchless than the original brands.Biosimilarsare follow-on versions ofcomplex biological medicines, which arealso cheaper. By developing and sellingtheselow-cost alternatives,Indiancompanies make treatments accessible tomore people. DOMESTIC ROLE IN ENHANCINGAFFORDABILITY India’s pharma industry plays a centralrole in making healthcare affordable forIndians. Because many people pay out ofpocket for medical care, low drug pricesarecritical.Indian companies keepprices competitive through economies ofscale.The large domestic market andmassproduction allow companies toproduce at low cost. This keeps priceslower than in many other countries. Forexample, Indian drug makers have cutprices on important medicines and offerpatientassistance programmes.Oneanalysis notes that most Indians struggleto afford medicines, and Indian firms stepin by offering cheaper alternatives. Theindustry is also reaching patientsthrough partner networks. For instance,smaller distributors use franchise models(like PCD pharma franchises) and third-p a r t ym a n u f a c t u r i n g t o e n s u r e A key domestic initiative is the PradhanMantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana(PMBJP).This government programmefunds branded generic outlets that sellmedicines at steep discounts. Accordingtot he M i n i s t r y of C he m i c a l s&Fertilisers, by early 2025 there were over15,000Jan Aushadhi Kendras acrossIndia. These stores sell quality genericmedicines at 80-90% lower than brandedequivalents.