RABAT — India is rapidly consolidating its role as a key global healthcare partner by leveraging affordable generic pharmaceuticals, expansive public health initiatives, digital tech platforms, and traditional medicine research. Its evolving domestic healthcare system offers a scalable model for developing economies across the Global South seeking to enhance equitable care.
By transferring technology, securing pharmaceutical supply lines, and building localized capabilities, India’s experience demonstrates how low- and middle-income nations can construct resilient and inclusive healthcare systems.
The foundation of India’s international health leadership lies in its massive domestic overhaul. Over 187,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established to deliver frontline health services. The flagship Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) now covers over 600 million beneficiaries, supporting more than 130 million medical treatments with a total expenditure surpassing 2 trillion rupees. Furthermore, coverage has expanded to include approximately 60 million senior citizens aged 70 and older, irrespective of income levels.
India’s pharmaceutical export sector reached $31 billion in fiscal year 2025–26, up from $30.5 billion the previous year and $2 billion in 2000–01. Indian medicines are distributed to over 190 countries worldwide, supplying roughly 20% of the global generic medicine volume across 60,000 generic brands in 60 therapeutic categories. Indian manufacturers also account for over half of global vaccine production and fulfill nearly 60% of global vaccine demand at key supply-chain stages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative distributed hundreds of millions of vaccine doses internationally. While Indian firms are shifting into higher-value generics such as injectables and biosimilars, experts emphasize the need to diversify supply lines for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)—particularly imports from China—to preserve long-term resilience.
To ensure affordability translates directly to patient access, India’s Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has deployed more than 20,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across 776 out of 784 districts. These outlets sell medicines at prices 50% to 80% lower than branded equivalents, featuring a product portfolio of 2,110 generic medicines and 315 surgical items. The network serves 1 million to 1.2 million visitors daily, generating an estimated cumulative savings of 450 billion rupees for citizens, with plans to expand to 25,000 outlets by March 2027.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, India’s digital public infrastructure provides proven mechanisms for managing large-scale public health needs. The CoWIN platform successfully managed and processed over 2 billion vaccination records during the pandemic, while the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform has surpassed 500 million remote clinical consultations, connecting rural patients directly with specialist healthcare professionals. India’s combined model of decentralized medicine distribution, large-scale health insurance, and digital public infrastructure presents an adaptable framework for developing nations navigating similar healthcare delivery challenges.
