research paper on pharmaceutical industry in india

An overview of the SWOT analysis in India's pharmaceutical supply chain

Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research

ISSN : 1985-9899

Article publication date: 28 June 2023

The Indian pharmaceutical industry has contributed significantly to global healthcare by securing superior-quality, inexpensive and reachable medicines worldwide. However, supply chain management (SCM) has been challenging due to constantly shifting requirements for short lifecycles of products, the convergence of industry and changeable realities on the ground. This study aims to identify, assess and prioritize the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the pharmaceutical SCM environment in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) analysis and recognizes strategies to utilize the advantages of the strengths and opportunities, rectify weaknesses and resolve threats.

A variety of strategies that could have a positive effect on the Indian pharmaceutical business are presented. Findings and suggested strategies can significantly advance knowledge, enhance understanding and contribute to the growth of a successful SCM for the Indian pharmaceutical sector.

Originality/value

This paper would act as a roadmap to greater comprehension of the market leaders and market leaders' operating climate. The findings from this study will offer academic scholars and business practitioners deeper insights into the environment of SCM.

• Pharmaceutical
• Supply chain management
• Green practices
• SWOT analysis

Wahab, S.N. , Ahmed, N. and Ab Talib, M.S. (2023), "An overview of the SWOT analysis in India's pharmaceutical supply chain", Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research , Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AGJSR-03-2023-0102

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Siti Norida Wahab, Nusrat Ahmed and Mohamed Syazwan Ab Talib

Published in Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research . Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

1. Introduction

The pharmaceutical sector is a network of procedures, activities and organizations that discover, develop and manufacture drugs and medications ( Mehralian, Zarenezhad, & Rajabzadeh Ghatari, 2015 ). It is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and a significant contributor to the world economy ( Chandra, Sridharan, & Shwetha, 2016 ). The pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) is more complex due to unique procurement, production and preservation. PSC encompasses all activities that involve the flow of medication discovery and development, manufacturing, distribution and application across wide-ranging healthcare conveniences and other businesses that enable these various stages to work effectively. PSC typically begins with inbound logistics, where producers procure raw material from the vendors and turn it into the finished product. Produced pharmaceutical goods from the manufacturing sector will then head to the organizations' central warehouses. Then the goods are delivered to carrying and forwarding companies (C&F) to distribute to different stockholders/distributors/wholesalers, as needed. The products venture out to lakhs of retailers nationwide through these wholesalers. Finally, the drugs pass through these outlets to the end-users ( Vishwakarma, Garg, & Barua, 2019 ).

The Indian pharmaceutical industry has contributed significantly to global healthcare by securing superior-quality, inexpensive and reachable medicines worldwide. It has enormously contributed to India's healthcare consequences and economy. Although the Indian pharmaceutical industry is recognized by volume as the third-largest market in the world, it is encountering many obstacles that have affected its development trajectory over the past few years ( Jain, Ajmera, & Davim, 2022 ; Jain, Phoghat, Ajmera, & Sirvi, 2022 ; Mahajan, 2019 ). Many global trends have significantly affected the export market, turning the environment more volatile. Studies showed that exports from India are likely to experience intense international competition, especially for generic drugs that are highly price-sensitive ( Mahajan et al ., 2015 ). In particular, supply chain management (SCM) has been challenging due to constantly shifting requirements for short lifecycles of products, the convergence of industry and changeable realities on the ground. In the pharmaceutical sector, SCM could transform the company to efficiently use capital and services, maximize income, improve shareholder value and respond vigorously to consumer demand ( Afshan & Sindhuja, 2015 ; Desingh, 2022 ).

On the other hand, the failure of a successful SCM may trigger management issues ( Sodhi & Tang, 2021 ). To maintain sustainability in such a highly volatile environment, evaluating global market dynamics and best practices along with effective implantation are to be seen as the only way to overcome challenges. Indian pharmaceutical firms invest one-third of their revenue in SCM operations because of their relatively weak transport network ( Jain, Ajmera et al. , 2022 ; Jain, Phoghat et al. , 2022 ; Mahajan, 2019 ) Drugs are being halted by one day to reach the market expense of about US$1 million to the industries. Moreover, cost shares of logistics are 45-55% in the context of extra costs by the PSC, making the condition even worse ( Parmata, 2016 ).

The general market concern is that certain Indian healthcare companies invest considerable capital in rectifying SCM issues. The particular problem with the industry is that the majority of the Indians in the healthcare industry business leaders struggle to minimize the expenses associated with SCM. Nevertheless, the consensus of experts in countries like India may not recognize the problems and obstacles related to this SCM due to a lack of knowledge about the industry environment. Although there have been various studies on SCM, few articles are available concerning these critical issues ( Nabipour & Ülkü, 2021 ). Consequently, previous authors have suggested re-studying the problems for a better perspective ( Ali et al ., 2021 ; Schweitzer & Lu, 2018 ). This paper will, therefore, focus on the external and internal environmental issues and best practices adopted in India by healthcare supply chain management (HSCM) from the different pharmaceutical industries. Particular emphasis is placed on the HSCM environment of the drug-producing and vaccine-producing industries, while issues regarding the medical device industry will be excluded. This study aims to identify, assess and prioritize the strength, weaknesses and opportunities of the pharmaceutical SCM environment in India by SWOT analysis and recognize strategies to utilize the advantages of the strengths and opportunities, rectify weaknesses and resolve threats.

The paper is divided into three sections. It begins with a brief discussion of the current market scenario and the critical contribution of SWOT analysis in the industrial environment assessment. The following section discusses the analysis of SWOT and the SWOT matrix, as well as a thorough review. Lastly, the last part of the paper presents the implications, limitations and suggestions for future research. Since it is the first effort to integrate SWOT in pharmaceutical products’ HSCM, findings from this paper will offer academic scholars and business practitioner’s deeper insights into the environment of SCM. Besides, the application of the proposed strategies will have a positive influence on the growth of the HSCM.

2. India pharmaceuticals industry overview

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is currently the world’s third-largest in volume and tenth-largest in size. The overall scale of the industry (including medications and medical devices) is about US$43 billion and is currently seeing a growth pace of 7–8% in the drug market. Net exports (medicines and medical equipment) amount to about US$20 billion, of which about 90% are medicines ( DoP, 2022 ). Branded generic products lead the Indian pharmaceutical industry, contributing 70% of the market share in revenues. The generic drug market contributes 21%, while over-the-counter contributes 9% of the Indian pharmaceutical market of overall US$20 billion revenue. Regarding product diversities, the anti-infectious group dominates the sales revenue, generating nearly 16% of overall pharmaceutical sales. Products like cardiovascular medication sales contribute about 13%, the anti-diabetic drug shares around 7%, gastrointestinal drugs contribute 11%, vitamins 8%, minerals 9% and respiratory and pain/analgesic segments share about 7%. In comparison, other segments contributed approximately 29% of overall generic medicines sales in India ( Chandra et al ., 2016 ).

Indian products are shipped to over 200 countries around the globe, with Japan, Australia, West Europe and the US as the main destinations. The country exported around US$18 billion in pharmaceutical products, with a reported rise of 10.72% from 2021 to 2022. India mainly exports to Russia, South Africa, the UK and the USA. Drug formulations and biologicals account for 77% of Indian pharmaceutical exports, with bulk and intermediate pharmaceuticals accounting for 21%. From 2021 to 2022, the share of bulk drugs, intermediate products, drug formulations and biologicals exported was around US$176 billion. Meanwhile, generic medications account for 20% of global exports, making the country the world’s top provider of generic pharmaceuticals in volume. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry contributes around 1.72% to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country ( DoP, 2022 ).

3. Methodology

As mentioned in the introduction section, this paper aims to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of the Indian PSC industry by using SWOT analysis and developing effective strategies for progress. Data collection methods include an extensive review of past literature and field observation. The literature gathered for initial data collection comes from various sources which fit or are linked to this paper’s keywords. Analysis of SWOT is an approach where an organization’s strengths and weaknesses are measured coupled with the organization’s externally encountered opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis effectively solves complicated strategic problems by plummeting the number of facts required to enhance decision-making ( Lohrke, Mazzei, & Frownfelter-Lohrke, 2022 ). In addition, SWOT analysis is one of the most widely recognized and proven methods for strategic formulation ( Ab Talib & Wahab, 2021 ) Past scholars proved that SWOT analysis offers a forum for understanding the desired potential role and identifying problems ( Ab Talib & Wahab, 2021 ; Jain, Ajmera et al. , 2022 ; Mbazima, Mbonane, & Masekameni, 2022 ). It is an ideal tool for corporate planning, strategy analysis, evaluation of competitors, product growth and research report analysis ( Budi, Bhayangkara, & Fadah, 2016 ; Puyt, Lie, De Graaf, & Wilderom, 2020 ).

Internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, are included in the SWOT analysis. Environmental segregation has been undertaken in internal issues related to identity, layout, availability of tangible and intangible capital, potential and profitability and external issues related to the political situation, economic turmoil, societal and technical developments and environmental issues. It can give policymakers a clearer view of how weaknesses can be turned into strengths by exploiting challenges and recognizing how risks will become opportunities without using strengths. The usage of SWOT analyses is extensive owing to their unique analytical framework, ranging from formulating strategies for individual industries, economies, states and multinational organizations and even regional analysis ( Ab Talib & Wahab, 2021 ). The recent use of SWOT analysis can also be seen in environmental management ( Herrera-Navarrete et al ., 2022 ), healthcare ( Jain, Ajmera et al. , 2022 ), aviation management ( Nam, Choi, Edell, De, & Song, 2023 ), pharmaceutical ( Etukakpan et al ., 2023 ), SCM ( Ab Talib & Wahab, 2021 ), tourism ( Fan et al ., 2023 ) and infrastructure ( Cheng, Huang, Guo, Li, & Chen, 2022 ). Based on the examples above, it is clear that using SWOT analysis for research and further understanding the HSCM environment through field observation of the pharmaceutical industry in India is an excellent tool choice. It may help develop strategies for the HSCM sector, which will improve the country’s welfare through the relevant convention on the strengths and opportunities provided.

4. SWOT analysis

4.1 strengths, 4.1.1 strong government support.

The pharmaceutical sector in India continues to develop with Government initiatives and the involvement of the private sector. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has undertaken several steps to ensure drug quality is available in India ( Ghosh, 2019 ). Various regulations and policies have been undertaken to ensure the quality of drugs. For example, in 2011, the Drug Advisory Committee said that any medication strip accessible in India should have a 2D barcode. It has reduced the production of counterfeited pharmaceutical goods and ensured some consistency. It also positively impacts the global pharmaceutical industry ( Mohiuddin, Mazumder, Chrysostome, & Su, 2017 ). Moreover, the government ensures a licensing opportunity for all drug companies, patent policies and clinical trials and promotes research and development (R&D) in pharmaceutical sectors ( Ghosh, 2019 ). Even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, disaster, or crisis condition, the government of India will continue to provide vital support to the relevant industry players ( Singh et al ., 2023 ). Currently, when global SCM, including the pharmaceutical industry, has blown out due to the COVID-19 crisis, the government of India discussed upholding construction factory authorizations along with the necessary clearances from the Ministry of the Environment and giving the electricity subsidies endorsing hubs for pharmaceutical development ( Chatterjee, 2020 ).

4.1.2 Low production cost, labor cost and the expense of clinical trials

One of the greatest strengths that made India a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry is its inexpensive labor and supply and low cost of drug output. India is the largest production hub for labor-intensive exports compared to China, Vietnam and other Asian countries ( Fayaz & Kaur, 2022 ). It is even significantly lower than the United States, which gives India a competitive advantage ( Ganesan & Veena, 2018 ). These labor pools allow investment in generating incremental innovation, which is labor-sensitive. On the other hand, leading pharmaceutical firms are relocating their clinical trial activities to India and other developing countries. The approach is understandable given their ample benefits, such as a vast pool of patients, low set-up costs, the availability of qualified experts and massive business opportunities. It is a place for clinical trials that cost around one-tenth of a United States clinical trial ( Mondal & Abrol, 2015 ).

4.1.3 Widespread usage of IT

Recently HSCM has experienced systemic shifts in the healthcare delivery structures, leading to the ongoing usage of information system/information technology. Healthcare organizations have started using customized high-end hardware and software for billing, patient scheduling and medical recording. Integrating this system with SCM can make the process more convenient and user-friendly ( Afshan & Sindhuja, 2015 ). Implementation of information and communication technology (ICT)  can improve healthcare services in private hospitals and increase patient satisfaction ( Agarwal, 2017 ). One of the prominent examples is the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) to identify counterfeit drugs. Science and technology play a significant part in the battle against counterfeiting ( Islam & Islam, 2022 ). RFID technologies and copy radio waves of the nuclear quadruple resonance spectrum can be used to recognize solid materials’ chemical composition and overcome counterfeit drug problems ( Haji, Kerbache, & Al-Ansari, 2022 ). Furthermore, the regulatory authorities and the players are implementing several schemes linked to the recording and maintaining of electronic medical records, mobile health services and telemedicine in a big way across the country ( Mohiuddin et al ., 2017 ).

4.1.4 Strong interpersonal relationship

In the face of rapidly spiraling prices, hospitals face intense pressure to offer expanded access to high-quality services. Consequently, cost management has been one of the significant challenges for the pharmaceutical industry ( Benarbia & Kyamakya, 2022 ). Network partnerships that provide ample opportunity to develop partnerships between patients and providers are considered an essential strength of the Indian pharmaceutical industry to maintain SCM and reduce costs ( Chakraborty, 2018 ). On the other hand, strong interpersonal skills in procurement, leadership development and supply manager training are vital to establishing an effective SCM system ( Zenkevich & Kazemi, 2020 ). Supply chain managers are concierge who forms strategic buyer-supplier relationships, offer resources to internal buyers and vendors and coordinate supply chains of content and information flows.

4.1.5 Reverse logistics approach

Reverse logistics involves the process of preparing, developing, conducting and controlling the profitable and efficient stream of any undesirable or unhealthy drug or its formulation and linked information from the point of use to the origin point to prevent any potential harm, recovery value or appropriate disposal ( Abbas, 2018 ). Due to unavoidable challenges such as exponential growth in customer expectations, competitive pressures, a wide range of products and the need for continuous efforts to win customer satisfaction, an efficient reverse logistics process has become essential for revitalizing value. In the Indian pharmaceutical industry, the continued prevalence of expired and low-quality medicines has been linked to the marketplace influx of unwanted products leading towards a negative impact on SCM as well as health hazards. Along with the reverse logistics approach in improving pricing and regulatory policies, increasing customer understanding of medicinal usage and cooperative procurement of therapeutic goods have been recognized as steps to increase competitiveness and efficiency among players and mitigate market floods with low-quality medicine ( Abbas & Farooquie, 2020 ).

4.2 Weaknesses

4.2.1 procurement risk.

Over the past few years, concerns with the quality of material have drifted, giving rise to batch failures, slowdowns in manufacturing and a shortage of available resources all over the industry. On the other hand, inadequate quantification, fraudulent procurement procedures, tendering practices and poor financial management and payment are some of the major issues faced during the procurement process in different Indian hospitals ( Endo & Kamei, 2022 ; Singh, 2019 ). This often results in a shortage of medicine that interrupts the process of providing high-quality healthcare.

4.2.2 Multiple manufacturing amenities

In today’s business world, any industry’s ability to manage and combine complex relationships with suppliers and customers is critical to its success. Intense global competition has compelled organizations to have a close and incorporated relationship between manufacturers and supply chain partners to ensure a well-integrated supply chain system. However, because India’s economy is so fragmented, integrating the different activities that make up its supply chain is complex. The involvement of several policy agencies with partly split roles between core and provinces culminated in a proprietorship crisis ( Radwan & Farouk, 2021 ).

4.2.3 Complex and unequipped distribution network

Interruptions in distribution and inventory scarcities have become a regular phenomenon in the Indian pharmaceutical SCM. The critical factor behind this matter is the highly decentralized distribution system, inadequate warehouses and various drug transport requisites, including the cold storage facilities and the augmentation system ( Bolineni, 2016 ). Poor infrastructure, the absence of efficient records monitoring systems, scarcity of warehouses and clinics with no safe storage room have rendered the material processing and delivery network more disruptive ( Singh, 2019 ). Inadequate indenting processes, uncoordinated inventory management and material processing are frequently confused within SCM ( Kokilam, Joshi, & Kamath, 2016 ). Additionally, Wendt et al . (2018) found that officials and storekeepers fail to maintain buffer stocks or extra stock retained to minimize stock-outs between purchases, resulting in medicine shortages among rural patients. Even in the case of vaccine, inadequate stock control, insufficient planning and cold chain delays often causes vaccine wastage and create a high risk of health hazard ( Chandra & Kumar, 2019 ). The inadequate storage options are yet another significant flaw in the distribution process. Moreover, insufficient transport facilities and weak road and rail services are other challenges in distribution networks ( Dwivedi & Pradhan, 2017 ; Singh, 2019 ).

4.2.4 Long lead time

One of the most critical shortcomings of the Indian pharmaceutical SCM is the long lead time. This includes time for new product development, competency acquisition, procurement, manufacturing, delivery, regulative process and cash-to-cash cycle time. The long lead times reduce the reliability and responsiveness of the PSC capabilities and may degrade PSC’s agility and market share and increase total costs ( Moosivand, Ghatari, & Rasekh, 2019 ). Due to the extended shipping period, several studies have reported significant scarcity (stock-out) of medicines such as folic acid in different levels of healthcare institutions such as hospitals, community health centers, primary health centers and sub-centers. As a result, a vast Indian population remains underserved ( Kumar & Kumar, 2014 ).

4.2.5 Quality issue

Accessibility, availability, the standard of medicines and other medical equipment are the key factors influencing the provision of adequate health care among the rural population. However, shortage and substandard treatment quality is India’s primary concern ( Kokilam et al ., 2016 ). There is also an increasing occurrence of pharmaceutical recalls, reports of counterfeit products and problems relating to insufficient supply in foreign and domestic markets. India’s issue with counterfeit medicines has contributed to negative worldwide publicity. Illegally manufactured, diverted, counterfeited, or adulterated products have quicker exposure across the black market to the delivery network. People often buy loose tablets instead of complete strips. As a result, neither barcode solution nor hologram and other methods like this fit here. The Indian Ministry of Health assessed that 5% of India’s medicines are counterfeit, whereas 0.3% are spurious. In the US$5 billion Indian pharma market, 20% are false medicines ( Singh & others, 2017 ). Moreover, no successful steps exist to battle the country’s counterfeit medicine drug cartel system. The healthcare industry stakeholders had to operate among themselves under an authenticity-deficit relationship ( Pandey & Litoriya, 2021 ).

4.2.6 Certification and handling issues

International pharmaceutical companies established firmer legal grounds for launching new medicines in India. Besides, today’s fast-changing laws and legislation fuel the demand from regulatory affairs practitioners to meet the industry’s current needs of international markets to successfully introduce their drugs to the pharmaceutical market ( Senthil, Baviya Priyadharshini, Ramachandran, Ganesh, & Shrivastava, 2015 ). However, there is insufficient coordination with the international accreditation program for Indian organizations and a uniform national accreditation framework. These constraints on certification serve as an obstacle to international trade ( Afshan & Sindhuja, 2015 ). Because of this incoherence, a regulatory mechanism has become more challenging, and it may require a year or more to approve new products for marketing.

4.2.7 Lack of expert workforce

India’s healthcare industry provides for a growing population, and the business is expected to expand above previously estimated levels of 10–12%. But, recent studies show a massive shortage of qualified healthcare executives and supervisors employed with clinics, pharmaceutical firms, health insurers, third-party management and other healthcare providers ( Sharma, 2020 ). For example, stores are one of the hospital’s most important units. It carries out essential tasks, including purchasing, obtaining, inspecting, warehousing, storing, billing and delivering equipment and services to all hospital departments. Thus, stores in charge must be well acquainted with accounting or instructed for the same purpose ( Kataria, Saini, & Gupta, 2020 ).

4.2.8 Lack of training facilities

The majority of the pharmaceutical organization did not provide enough training and knowledge-sharing programs for their employees. Studies showed that storekeepers did not undergo instruction in stock management ( Wendt et al ., 2018 ). Gaps in pharmacy education and training and lack of resolution on pharmacist roles pose challenges in health services. Additionally, most people in the PSC have little knowledge about e-medicine SCM ( Afshan & Sindhuja, 2015 ). Besides, many staff feel reluctant to use information technology (IT) systems for data management due to a lack of knowledge and skill. They also fail to choose the right technology platform resulting in a disastrous effect ( Kokilam et al ., 2016 ). Additionally, mainstream pharmaceutical companies and hospitals in India are still lagging in applying the green supply chain management (GSCM) model. Because of that, companies would have to answer concerns on the ecological aspects of their development practices and supply chain, their carbon emissions and the recycling process, which seems to be an additional weakness that needs to be sorted out in the future years ( Sharma, 2020 ). The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the value of awareness, preparation, capacity building and infrastructure growth in India for Emergency Preparedness & Response (EP&R) ( Meghana, Aparna, Chandra, & Sanjeev, 2021 ).

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 population growth.

India is predicted to overshadow China as the most populated country in the world over the next decade due to an even higher fertility rate. India will be a home for around 1.5 billion citizens by 2025 ( Samir, Wurzer, Speringer, & Lutz, 2018 ). Consequently, the patient population will grow by more than 20% over the next ten years. This will result in a growing demand for treatment and medication, which poses an outstanding opportunity for the Indian pharmaceutical industry ( IBEF, 2020 ). Moreover, the demographic trend in the growth of the senior population represents a large customer pool providing a demand for innovations for curative, preventive and geriatric treatment. On the other hand, because of a genetically diverse population and the abundance of trained physicians, the Indian pharmaceutical industry market has the potential to attract significant investment for clinical trials, which serves as an additional opportunity.

4.3.2 Increased prevalence of lifestyle-related illnesses

Along with communicable and infectious disorders, there is likely to be a more significant cardiovascular disorder, oncology and diabetes ( Falkingham, Qin, Vlachantoni, & Evandrou, 2017 ). This transition in customer dynamics sheds light on a new frontier to incorporate an evolving area of therapeutic profile for top pharma companies. Due to this rapid population increase, the emergence of both communicable and non-communicable disorders and economic advancement, the demand for pharmaceutical drugs has expanded several folds. Therefore, India’s pharmaceutical sector has developed into a leading global trading company with tremendous potential.

4.3.3 Global trade potential

Referring to the policy the Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported, India is now looking for potential prospects as a market leader in manufacturing brand-name generic drugs ( Mohiuddin et al ., 2017 ). Regarding pharmaceuticals, India respectively holds the third and sixth positions in the global market regarding growth and size. It is among the Indian economy’s fastest-rising industries. The Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate of 15.92% to US$55 billion by 2020 and is projected to continue in the coming years. Thus, if India’s state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure is successfully built, India’s share of the global pharmaceutical industry could grow even more ( Parmata, 2016 ).

4.3.4 The emergence of new technologies in HSCM

The healthcare industry is a knowledge-intensive market. The technology has quickly improved the standards for doing business internationally with the potential to deliver prompt, precise and credible details ( Kokilam et al ., 2016 ). The recent advancement of IT has created enormous opportunities to improve SCM’s effectiveness and reliability, which includes a cloud-based micro health center. A typical shipping container can quickly transform into a micro health center using cloud technologies. It can be conveniently delivered by any truck that can be used to return to healthcare facilities during a crisis like a disaster or war. Additionally, blockchain technology is another new technology that has immense potential to be used in HSCM is the blockchain technology ( Khezr, Moniruzzaman, Yassine, & Benlamri, 2019 ). This process makes it extremely easy to collect information for medical logistics requirements from the manufacture of medicines to the service user on the blockchain network. If fake medicine tries to invade the network at any point, it will be automatically identified and further invasion will be prevented ( Pandey & Litoriya, 2021 ).

4.3.5 Purchase in alliance

Community partnerships effectively lower healthcare expenses as they minimize the drug’s price, particularly medical supplies and pharmaceutical products ( Chakraborty, 2015 ). For example, TUV Rheinland’s Indian subsidiary has partnered with Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) to establish an Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI/EMC) facility over the four-to-five-year period for a total investment of US$12.64 million. Besides, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories collaborated with Japanese pharmaceutical leader Fujifilm Toyama Chemical and Global Response Aid (GRA) in 2020 for the production, manufacture and selling of antiviral medication Avigan (favipiravir) tablets for possible COVID-19 treatment providing enormous prospects for the future pharmaceutical field ( IBEF, 2020 ).

4.3.6 Wide range of adaptive policies for sustainable inventory management

The PSC comprises many supply chain parties, such as principal manufacturing plants, delivery centers, wholesalers and hospitals. The interrelationships among these elements and the resilience of generic drugs need advanced strategies for managing the supply chain ( Sbai & Berrado, 2018 ). Pharmaceutical companies are fastidiously searching for innovative ways to achieve additional benefits in inventory management. Several new policies have been formulated to make the different phases of SCM easier. One of them is periodically-affine policies, which allow decision-makers to efficiently monitor and regulate large-scale newsvendor networks in the face of volatile demand without needing delivery forecasting ( Bandi, Han, & Nohadani, 2019 ).

4.3.7 Rise in disposable income

In India, the disposable income is projected to increase for households was INR 200,000 per year, from 14% in 2009-2010 to 26% in 2014-2015. Increased earnings will push 73 million households into the middle class over the next ten years, making healthcare more affordable. This growing trend provides tremendous potential for the healthcare sector for the open market. Also, it raises high-end consumer demand generating more enormous business opportunities ( IBEF, 2020 ).

4.4 Threats

4.4.1 varying regulatory requirements across domestic and export markets.

Procurement and transferring drug management involved addressing current regulatory frameworks. In India, various laws regulate the flow and sale of medicine around the region, creating complexities for SCM. The policy sets prescription costs and the state government implements various drug pricing programs for multiple forms of medication ( Berndt & Cockburn, 2014 ). This kind of regulation of activities sometimes negatively impacts the supply chain process. A variance in specifications and requirements, on the other hand, increases the expense and uncertainty of export markets. For example, Indian Pharma is now experiencing a growing onslaught of multinational companies’ litigation in the US and Europe opposing their drugs on the grounds of product patent rights infringements. Also, the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) stipulation made it overbearing for the Indian pharmaceutical companies to launch their R&D or face the challenge of being limited to having just off-patent drug suppliers ( Alenina, Bengoa, & Vlasova, 2016 ).

4.4.2 Increased competition

Competition is a topic that is always relevant to health care discussion and pharmaceuticals are no different. Over the past five to ten years, several markets have seen steady growth, including China, Germany, Brazil, Italy, etc. Currently, several products with identical characteristics, bioequivalence and price ranges are commercialized by several multinational companies ( Garattini & Padula, 2018 ). This increasing competition and the emergence of new competitors represent a significant threat to the pharmaceutical industry in India.

4.4.3 Poor supplier service

In terms of APIs, Indian pharmaceutical companies extensively depend on China. Around 70% of the total raw material is imported from China. Therefore, it creates considerable uncertainty and vulnerability to disruption in the SCM, especially during the global crisis. This problem became acute when China was locked to seek to stop the COVID-19 disease. Pharmaceutical firms and the Government of India are deeply worried about the insecurity of the Indian PSC ( Chatterjee, 2020 ).

4.4.4 Uncertainty in demand

The heterogeneity of customers leads to substantial volatility in drug demand ( Vishwakarma et al ., 2019 ). Pharmaceutical settings are typically highly diversified in the real world, with numerous products and decision-making phases. It becomes more crucial for the vendors due to these uncertainties in demand. For online pharmacy services, significant fines are sometimes imposed when consumer demand is unmet ( Bandi et al ., 2019 ). Thus, it acts as a potential threat to retailers. A summary of the SWOT analysis is exhibited in Figure 1 .

5. SWOT analysis strategies

5.1 so strategies.

Strength-Opportunity (SO) strategies are employed to capitalize on internal strengths while taking advantage of external opportunities. Therefore, more efforts should be attempted by the government. Investing in local infrastructure and establishing a robust IT network would guarantee lower operational costs and optimize benefits. Besides, practical usage of the reverse logistics strategy would enable industries to increase their disposable income through unnecessary wastage and unwanted products ( Abbas, 2018 ). Additionally, an adaptation of the GSCM model will not only reduce environmental pollution but also reduce cost and provide an additional competitive advantage to the pharmaceutical industry.

5.2 ST strategies

By leveraging internal strengths to avoid the effects of external threats, the industry should formulate a single regulatory requirement to ensure the product’s quality and safety. Additionally, the government should encourage and leverage stakeholders to become domestic suppliers, reducing the risk of raw material supply shortages during a crisis ( Ghosh, 2019 ). Using the low labor cost facility and a wide variety of clinical trials, new therapeutic products should be introduced alongside a cost leadership approach to build product differentiation. Likewise, short marketing authorization should be adopted in collaboration with the government to speed up marketing and acquire first-mover benefits.

5.3 WO strategies

To strengthen the internal vulnerabilities and leverage external opportunities, it is recommended that SCM of the healthcare industry invest in an automated network to accelerate data structuring, processing and information flow. IoT and blockchain technologies will make the HSCM system more visible, reliable and effective. It will integrate the fragmented SCM system and thus more safely and efficiently combat issues like counterfeit and shortage of medicine (Pandey & Litoriya, 2020). This will ensure accessibility, visibility and transparency of the information flow resulting in continuous tracking of SCM system performance. It will also improve financial performance by reducing operating and administrative expenses. Therefore, it will safeguard premium health services via a sustainable and integrated SCM system ( Ling & Wahab, 2020 ). On the other hand, partnerships and the online exchange of expertise and knowledge between pharmaceutical community organizations and departments of public health will propagate the process of information flow among the SCM. Moreover, the training arrangement will also create expertise which will promulgate them to work more efficiently. Additionally, adaptation and standardization of a unified policy would rule out regulatory and quality problems.

5.4 WT strategies

Defensive strategies are suggested to minimize internal weaknesses and avoid potential external threats. Therefore, a standardized standard operating procedure (SOP) should be constructed to prevent the issues of various regulations and substandard counterfeited drugs. Especially for procurement policy, state procurement policy can be adopted and strictly maintained to ensure a sustainable supply chain. Instead, to ensure uninterrupted distribution, investment in IT, establishing local infrastructure and a faster clearance approach in using assets will reduce the SCM cycle as an analog with optimal reduction of operating costs. The correct distribution of goods and resources through both departments and vendors will continue to eliminate the bottlenecks and the expenses of the stakeholders concerned, thereby helping to treat patients at a reduced expense ( Afshan & Sindhuja, 2015 ). Therefore, the establishment of an integrated SCM can ensure the maximum efficacy of SCM with little cost. Table 1 displays the SWOT matrix summary of the HSCM environment of the pharmaceutical industry.

6. Conclusion

Indian pharmaceutical industry has grown over the last few years and the business plays a crucial role in the country’s economic development and social welfare. India is undergoing a critical transition as a global pharmaceutical competitor. Although the industry has courageously undertaken an expansion route that aspires to become a hub for low-cost production and R&D, they still face a complex collection of local and global obstacles that generate tremendous pressure on SCM. Moreover, environmental complexity, knowledge gap and limited research source made the condition more challenging to comprehend. This study was therefore performed to identify, evaluate and prioritize the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the pharmaceutical industry’s environment and to analyze best practices through SWOT analysis. The findings summarized in Figure 1 synchronized with the other studies on different sectors of HSCM ( Singh & others, 2017 ). Thus, Indian pharmaceutical firms need to redesign their procedures and frameworks. Figure 2 illustrates the suggested mitigation framework based on this study’s findings.

It is developed based on proactive and reactive strategies. The aggressive strategy includes supply management via the collaborative effort of government and stakeholders by setting a SOP based on state procurement policy, local investment, transportation and workforce development. At the same time, demand management includes strategies to develop industry regulations and policies towards introducing strong product differentiation and cost leadership. Moreover, effective adoption and utilization will ensure proper information flow and reliability and reduce the cost and time of the SCM cycle. Concerning product management formulation, a unified policy to ensure competence and quality of product will resolve the issue of counterfeited medication, industry shutdown and banning of pharmaceutical companies. Comparable, the reactive strategies require re-designing the fragmented SCM and integrating all the processes. SCM needs to be integrated, well-designed and sustainable to ensure maximum efficacy. Only then cost and profit maximization would be possible to achieve. Furthermore, a contingency plan for sudden SCM disruption and the development of EP&R will safeguard the sustainability of the PSC system. This significant transition would involve dedication from top management, combined with a practical implementation team that will help support the effects. Therefore, it is anticipated that the implementation of these strategies will embark on a positive impact on the HSCM environment in India.

6.1 Research implications

This research is among the few to combine SWOT analysis and the HSCM environment of the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, this paper would add importance to ongoing SWOT-based academic work. Besides, it would reduce the knowledge gap and enhance the perception of the pharmaceutical industry, not just in India but internationally. This paper would act as a roadmap to greater comprehension of the market leaders and their operating climate. Moreover, implementing the proposed methods effectively would increase the supply chain network efficiency and profitability for on-time delivery and reduce the company’s operational costs ( Babazadeh & Sabbaghnia, 2018 ). This study can impact social transformation by helping healthcare institutions to make sure essential medicines are available to patients at the time they need them. The research findings may also alter how individuals understand medical organizations involved in providing medicinal products for their treatments.

6.2 Limitation and future research

Because this is one of a few studies to look into SWOT analysis in the HSCM in India, one of the study’s limitations is the extremely subjective conclusions. Based on the author’s observations in the industry, the identified SWOT has been highlighted. A quantitative SWOT analysis should be conducted in future research. An empirical investigation would support the importance of the subjective aspects discussed in this work. Furthermore, because the pharmaceutical supply chain is always evolving, the findings of this article should be used as a parameter as the highlighted internal and external components may alter in the future. Hence, future studies should concentrate more on systematic and comprehensive empirical studies. More effort is needed to fully understand and unearth other pertinent or unseen SWOT that surround India’s pharmaceutical industry. As a result, the report suggests that future empirical studies using focus groups or panel interviews be conducted to gain more comprehensive insights into the total understanding of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Despite the report’s limitations, especially in light of India’s lack of pharmaceutical supply chain research, the qualitative technique utilized in this work further supports the feasibility and relevance of SWOT analysis for exploratory study. Additionally, the management of the HSCM is a dynamic process and the strategies differ from one to another. Thus, future studies may use the same criteria to carry out more country-specific or type-specific such as life-saving machines and surgical equipment. To improve the efficiency and reliability of HSCM, it is vital to pay more attention and focus on related issues such as staff and client recruitment, drug tracking and accessibility, cold chain control, human resources (HR) procedures, healthcare supply chain (HSC) risk reduction and waste management, EP&R during pandemics and disasters, usage of IoT based, blockchain and chatbots in healthcare.

HSCM SWOT analysis

HSCM mitigation strategies framework

SWOT matrix of the HSCM environment

Source(s): Table by authors

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Corresponding author

About the authors.

Siti Norida Wahab is Senior Lecturer in the operations management program at the Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Puncak Alam. She has more than 15 years of experience in both the industrial and educational fields. Her previous leadership positions include roles at the managerial level in multinational logistics companies and renowned private universities. Her research interest includes sustainable adoption in logistics and supply chain management. She managed national and international grants and has published her research works in high-rated journals, proceedings and book chapters. Besides, she supervised a number of MSc and PhD candidates. For excellence, she has won a platinum, diamond, gold and bronze medalist for the innovation competitions. She also actively serves as a reviewer for journals and academic conferences. Currently, she is a professional technologist of the Malaysia Board of Technologists and a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Nusrat Ahmed is Assistant Professor in Community Medicine at City Medical College and Hospital, Gazipur, Bangladesh. She has over eight years of teaching experience in both the healthcare and educational sectors. Her prior leadership experience includes positions in healthcare management at eHealth care companies and prestigious private medical colleges. She is now employed in Dr360 Health Limited as the chief medical officer at the patient engagement division. Her research interests include the digital transformation of healthcare logistics and supply chain management systems.

Mohamed Syazwan Ab Talib is Assistant Professor of Logistics Management at the School of Business and Economics, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). He studied logistics and transportation management at Universiti Teknologi MARA and graduated with a bachelor’s business degree with honors in 2011. Having completed the Master of Business Administration from Universiti Selangor in 2013, he pursued a doctoral degree in management in 2014 and was successfully awarded the PhD in Management, with distinction, from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2017. His research and teaching focus primarily on logistics and supply chain management with the inclusion of halal principles and Islamic distribution. His research also encompasses the halal management standard that centered on the association between halal certificate implementation and business performance. He has published numerous academic papers and presented in international conferences on various subjects, particularly on halal, halal food, halal management standards, halal logistics and halal food supply chains.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Pharmaceutical Industry and Way Forward

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Pharmaceutics, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Mehrauli - Badarpur, India.
• 2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Mehrauli - Badarpur , India.
• PMID: 32888279
• DOI: 10.2174/1871526520666200905123941

Background: As countries and industries continue to cope with the unparalleled challenges presented by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a specific area of concern has been the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global and Indian supply chains of the pharmaceutical industry. The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of establishing a risk management system that focuses on assessing future risks resulting from the loss of a supply chain among countries.

Objective: This review focuses on the role of the Indian pharmaceutical industry towards the pandemic. This review investigates the economic effect of COVID-19 across segments and what it implies for the Indian economy.

Methods: The COVID 19 flare-up has additionally commenced the Indian pharmaceutical organizations an opportunity to transform into a supported trade place point for gathering drugs and intermediates.

Results: An enormous pharmaceutical industry in India has consistently been a foundation of reasonable human services, and this pattern would now be able to be required to heighten further.

Conclusion: The activities from COVID-19 are with a need to change the overall impression of Indian pharmaceutical associations and even more altogether, reduce the dependence of the private pharma associations on alone suppliers like China.

Keywords: COVID-19; economy; industry.; outbreak; pandemic; pharmaceutical.

Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

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The rise of E-pharmacy in India: Benefits, challenges, and the road ahead

Alison c. dcruz.

BPharm of Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

Vinay N. Mokashi

Sreedhar ranganath pai, dharmagadda sreedhar.

1 Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

The recent worldwide pandemic has prompted several companies to turn to the online market. The pharmaceutical industry is one such significant and crucial in India. There has been an upsurge in online pharmacies throughout the Indian subcontinent over the last 3–5 years. This unique development of online or “E-pharmacy” field has been carefully examined and presented in this article. The distinction between online and offline pharmacies, the advantages and challenges faced by E-pharmacies, the driving forces that led to the growth of the E-pharmacy sector in India, and the various emerging Indian E-pharmacy companies are covered. A comprehensive review of the legal system under which the E-pharmacy industry operates is also briefed. The reader will also learn about the various initiatives implemented by the Government in support of the E-pharmacy sector in India.

Introduction

A web-based pharmacy is an online system that provides a platform for customers to purchase medicinal drugs and E-services online, allowing the customer to receive medicines/services in the comfort of their homes within a short time.[ 1 ] In this article, we aim to provide valuable insight into the online pharmacy sector in India.

The Indian drug market was assessed to be at US$ 41 billion in 2021 and remained the third biggest market as far as the amount/volume and the thirteenth biggest in terms of value. It is predicted to advance to US$ 65 billion by 2024 while ascending in maturing populace and persistent infections, rising expendable livelihoods, and expanding mindfulness, among others.[ 2 ] This calculated figure, which is around 33% of that of the US and practically a large portion of that of Europe, gives India a cutting edge as a creating objective.[ 3 ] Drug stores are gradually picking up force inside the online business industry space with its amazingly developing infiltration rate. As of now, around 250 online drug stores have come up within the nation.[ 4 ]

E-pharmacy is a highly unexplored sector and rose to popularity because of several entrepreneurs who aimed at delivering quality healthcare to every citizen in India at affordable rates. The preference for E-pharmacy rose from 23% in 2013 to around 59% in 2018.[ 5 ]

Another intriguing investigation by Frost and Sullivan has proposed that the estimated growth of the E-drug store market in India is at a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 63% and will reach US$ 36 billion by 2022 from what was observed in 2018 (US$ 512 million).[ 6 ] With urbanization on the rise, it is estimated that nearly half of the Indian population will turn to E-platforms for their medical needs. As per Netmeds, the E-drug store represents 1½%–2% of the entire pharmaceutical industry deal, and from the present trajectory, it can be assumed that the market growth can go up to 10% before the end of 2023.[ 7 ]

Several elements are driving the E-drug store market in India. Aside from pocket-friendly and reasonable items, these drug stores likewise are offering some benefit-added items and administrations such as arrangements for a specialist discussion (E-counsel) and E-symptomatic administrations, among others.[ 8 ] These administrations are helping these organizations to turn into a total medical care specialist cooperative, particularly in those regions where specific specialists are inaccessible or travel for discussions might be imperative for patients. Different E-medical services by the public authority like Ayushman Bharat provide financial aid by increasing the reach of insurance plans to remote places, feasible services, and doorstep conveyance within a short time, thereby expanding the prevalence of the web drug stores over disconnected retail drug stores among purchasers.[ 9 ] However, this industry has its shares of lows, and the biggest hindrance to this industry is the lack of a rigid legal framework. Without well-defined regulations for this sector, E-pharmacy is unable to win the battle over traditional medicine stores and continues to face several drawbacks, which will be discussed further.

A Brief Comparison of Online Pharmacy and Offline Pharmacy

In this section, we gave a brief comparison between the conventional and modern-day pharmacy Table 1 before we look at some major areas of the E-pharmacy sector.

Online versus offline pharmacy

CAGR=Compound annual growth rate, MRP=Maximum retail price

Driving Factors of the E-pharmacy Facet

In recent times, the demand for E-pharmacy is spiraling exponentially, especially during this pandemic, wherein several E-pharma companies have emerged as lifelines, working unfalteringly to extend their services to the public. At present, India has about 50+ start-ups in the E-pharmacy space providing quality and affordable medicines to about 5,000,000 patients per month across the country.[ 20 ] Major key drivers for online purchase of medicines are shown in Figure 1 .

Driving factors of the E-pharmacy facet

Rapid internet penetration in India

The last 5 years has witnessed an increase in the CAGR by 15%–16%. Internet penetration in both rural and urban India has risen significantly, and with the availability of internet-enabled smartphones and high-speed broadband connectivity, the number of internet users is expected to grow exponentially.[ 21 ]

Digital India initiative

The government-initiated flagship program, Digital India, aims to provide internet services to each side of the nation, including far-off towns and villages, thereby encouraging the E-pharmacy concept among the citizens and further opening doors of growth for this sector.[ 22 ]

Increase in government support

The Government of India (GoI) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) have come up with several public health-oriented initiatives with the help of information and communication technologies to enable residents to profit from government organizations without any difficulty.[ 23 ] Recorded beneath are a couple of government initiatives for online medical care administrations:

• National health portal
• Online registration system
• E-hospital@NIC

Aside from this, the National Health Stack is taking a shot at essentially cutting down the expenses of well-being insurance, giving credit only and a consistently coordinated framework to help patients.[ 24 ] Adding to the healthcare initiatives, the increase in health insurance schemes protects the public from the high cost of medicines and keeps their claim ratio under check.[ 25 ] This is an added advantage to E-pharmacy as many online players have tied up with the government E-healthcare initiatives. In turn, the healthcare insurers are progressively elevating the clients to purchase drugs through E-pharmacy gateways.

Changing lifestyle and disease progression

In the last 25 years, the incidence of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension has grown dramatically due to changing lifestyle habits generating a great demand for a lifelong supply of medication for the diseased population. However, most people are either old or lack awareness about the disease and do not seek medical help to avoid expensive treatment. E-pharmacy aims to provide affordable medicine and healthcare facilities to every citizen of the country without any physical movement, and hence, there is great scope for this sector.[ 26 ]

Booming Indian economy

India ranks sixth in terms of nominal gross domestic product and third in terms of purchasing power parity. It is the second quickest developing economy on the globe after China, and E-drug store is expected to drive future development, empowering India to become one of the best three financial forces in the world. At present, the Union Cabinet has approved the amendment in the foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy in the drug area, permitting up to 100% FDI under the automated course subsequently guaranteeing an expanded supply of medications over some time, consistent accessibility and supply of medications, and nondiscontinuance of fundamental prescriptions. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has also announced the introduction of the single window facility, which will further ease the business operations of the pharmacy players both offline and online.[ 27 ] Development in the Indian financial industry has increased medical spending, which is further expected to develop at 9%–12% CAGR between 2018 and 2022 to US$ 26–30 billion, which, thus, has profited the online drug industry.[ 28 ]

Expansion in domestic demand

With the increment in the education levels, increment in buyer right mindfulness, development in per capita pay, and changes in ways of life because of urbanization, the interest in the computerized drug store is expected to increase in the coming years.[ 29 ]

Pandemic outbreak

The SARS COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be one of the major key drives in promoting the importance of E-pharmacy. E-pharmacies have shown great resilience toward the pandemic by providing essential healthcare services to people all across the nation during these trying times. There is no doubt that E-pharmacies are here to stay, and in the coming months, the emergence of E-pharma sectors will be well established.[ 30 ]

Challenges of an Online Pharmacy

In India, the Drugs and Cosmetics (D and C) Act, 1940; D and C Rules, 1945; Pharmacy Act, 1948; and Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 govern and regulate importing, manufacturing, and distributing drugs to ensure delivering safe, effective, and quality medicines across the nation.[ 31 ] Currently, there is no concrete regulatory framework for E-pharmacy companies in India except for the Draft Rules that are pending approval, and so, these companies follow the offline legislation.[ 32 ] Several challenges have been addressed in the absence of a rigid framework, some of which are discussed in this section [ Figure 2 ].

Challenges of an online pharmacy

The lack of proper rules and regulations has profoundly affected the overall market growth of the E-pharmacy sectors in India and has kept many large investors at bay. The current D and C Act requires a pharmacist to have a valid license and a registered premise to safely store and sell the drugs, and so, E-pharmacy companies can only operate if they have a physical premise in India.[ 33 ]

Rules concerning the interstate sale of drugs are not well established, and so, there is a high possibility that drugs valid in one particular state may be considered invalid in another state. A similar incidence has already been registered by the Mumbai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and further such incidents are expected to rise as E-pharmacy companies comprise a large network of pharmacies integrated into a single platform, so rigorous monitoring of the sources from which these drugs are procured or delivered is going to be a major task for this sector.[ 34 ] Procurement of money before delivery of the medicine is another ambiguity in Indian law. Some laws state that money should be collected only after the delivery of the drug, and E-pharmacy companies can be held accountable for violations of the law as they offer various payment methods such as credit/debit payment and payment via mobile wallets that are not under the law.[ 34 ]

A comprehensive regulatory framework is needed to deal with Schedule H and X drugs. These drugs can only be sold within the presence of a pharmacist with a valid prescription in hand as these include antibiotics and habit-forming drugs. With E-pharmacy, there is a possibility that one prescription can be uploaded several times on the website portal, and this can lead to increased incidents of drug abuse.[ 35 ]

Patient identity is another challenge as it will be very difficult to trace the authenticity of the prescription when it is uploaded on the websites for online purchase of drugs, and there is no regulation as such that deals with the sale of drugs to minors.[ 35 ]

As of now, there is no framework for barcoding at the assembling level, and this can be an obstacle to the smooth supply of medicines. Government should step into this matter and mandate barcoding for the online mode of drug distribution to promote transparency and accuracy in data management systems.[ 36 ]

India needs to work on government regulations to encourage support for technological innovation since it lacks manufacturer-level drug production and supply. With the help of the Government, the E-pharmacy sectors can focus on improving automation and work on generating products quickly at lower operational costs.[ 37 ]

E-pharmacy companies aim to provide better healthcare facilities to the vast public across the nation. However, with poor cold chain logistics and no temperature tracking, E-pharmacy store areas cannot appropriately serve the populace in the rural regions with items requiring cold stockpiling.[ 36 ]

Resistance from the brick-and-mortar pharmacy stores has been increasing greatly. At the forefront of the attack on the big online outlets is the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.[ 38 ] Moreover, the luring discounts and offers extended by the E-pharmacy sectors can have an impact on offline market growth. Different associations have led to emphasis on the D and C Act, which expresses that specific medicines can be sold distinctly with a prescription, and home conveyance of drugs by E-drug stores goes against this standard.[ 39 ] Given the release of the draft in August 2018, the center had announced the release of the final notification by December 2018 and later extended the deadline to July 31, 2019, but these guidelines never saw the light of the day.[ 40 , 41 ] Some of the disadvantages of offline pharmacy and probable actions to be taken is given in Table 2 .

Some disadvantages of the offline pharmacy

Information on Leading “E-Pharma” Companies in India

In 2015, the Indian Internet Pharmacy Association was set up by 11 initial start-up E-drug store organizations, viz., 1MG, Netmeds, BookMEDS, mChemist, Medlife, PharmEasy, Medi-Dart, MedStar, Zigy, SaveOnMedicals, and Savemymeds. In this part, we will glance at these significant central participants.[ 42 ]

1MG is one of the India's leading and trusted consumer healthcare platforms. It provides healthcare services at affordable prices along with cost-effective alternatives. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the public to deepen their knowledge about their medication therapy through various E-consultation and E-diagnostic services. The company is working toward public welfare in light to provide consumers and caregivers with the most appropriate healthcare medications/services at the most convenient price.[ 43 ]

• Headquarters: Gurgaon
• Operation: Web portal and mobile app available across Android/IOS
• Founders: Anurag Mundhada, Prashant Tandon, Vikas Chauhan, Gaurav Agarwal, Sameer Maheshwari.

Launched in 2015, PharmEasy has been working toward providing trusted healthcare products and services to over 1000+ cities covering over 22,000+ pin codes.[ 44 ] They mediate between a consumer and a local pharmacy and provide diagnostic services for extensive medical needs. PharmEasy is working with the vision to provide quality medicines to every citizen of India with the highest savings in a short time.[ 44 ]

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founders: Dharmil Sheth, Mikhil Innani, Dhaval Shah.

India's first mobile chain of co-branded pharmacy stores, CareOnGo, serves as a platform for local retail stores to manage and control their stock through technology-driven facilities in a systematic manner and under a single umbrella. Users can purchase medicines on their smartphones and enjoy added advantages of finding medicinal alternatives, discounted rates, and daily alerts/reminders, as well as maintaining confidentiality.[ 45 ]

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founders: Ritu Singh, Aditya Kandoi, Yogesh Agarwal.

Medlife is one of the India's largest online platforms and provides a one-stop shop for all healthcare needs. It is driven by the motto of serving/providing every citizen of India with the best possible health facilities. It not only provides a vast range of products but also provides genuine products from reliable sources. It is a customer attraction platform because of its discounted rates and enticing cash-back offers. Its vast range of services includes accessing healthcare specialists through E-consultation, evaluating health through Medlife labs, and maintaining transparency and security of health records. Medlife is currently serving clients in about 25,000 pin codes across the Indian subcontinent. Medlife was felicitated with the “Hot Bangalore Brand” award, which comes under the Young Organizations category hosted by Paul Writer in connotation with Adobe and Oracle.[ 46 ]

• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Founders: Tushar Kumar and Prashant Singh.

Myra Medicines

Myra Medicines is a Bengaluru-based start-up. The ideology of this start-up came from the problem faced by the locals of the area due to unreachability at the time of need. Myra is tied up with a network of 40 distributors across India. In 2017, it was accepting approximately 1000 orders per day and earned lump sum revenues. Myra provides a vast employment opportunity, with approximately 300 people working under the umbrella of the organization.[ 47 ] In 2019, Myra was acquired by Medlife in an all-stock transaction deal.[ 48 ]

• Founders: Faizan Aziz and Anirudh Coontoor.

Netmeds is an official online platform that provides services such as the delivery of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Netmeds is currently providing services to around 5.7 million people across 670 cities and towns. It provides an easy-to-use platform to acquire products online. A group of well-qualified pharmacists inspect the prescription uploaded on the portal for authenticity and dispense the dosage requirement. On the Netmeds website, customers can acquire over 70,000 prescription drugs for chronic and short-term ailments. Nonprescription drugs such as nutrition supplements are also provided.[ 49 ]

• Headquarters: Chennai
• Founders: Pradeep Dadha and Bruce Schwack.

Existing E-Pharmacy Models

At present, there is no well-established E-pharmacy model. However, the following are examples of models that are being implemented by various E-pharmacy companies.

Stock-based model of E-pharmacy

According to the stock-based model, the merchandise and the enterprises are regulated by the E-commerce organization, and the items are supplied to the customers directly. In addition, a list of drugs dispensed across various areas/individuals is maintained. When orders are received through the portal, they are verified by registered E-pharmacists for authenticity. Requests, which include a prescription, are affirmed for a lawful E-remedy transferred to the client on the site. Medicines are not apportioned without a valid prescription. Registered pharmacists cover the prescriptions in a carefully designed package and convey them to the shoppers using dispatch administration.[ 50 ]

Commercial center-based model of E-pharmacy

In a commercial center-based model, the E-pharmacy organizations act as intermediaries between consumers and retailers. The E-pharmacy functions as a compiler and provides an E-link that interfaces with the clients and providers of drugs. The E-pharmacy site comprises authorized drugstores and records their items. Clients pick the medicines/drugs offered on the site/application. The E-prescription is transferred to the site/application. The request is then moved to the authorized drug store. The drug store affirms the prescription and thereafter validates the prescription. The requests are canceled without a legitimate prescription. The prescriptions are then moved to the clients through a transporter administration.

Generic E-Commerce Marketplace

These are digital establishments that supply a wide range of hardware, design, furniture, home goods, and beautifying agents. However, advertisements of services and offers of endorsed prescriptions or any medications, which fall under the D and C Act, are prohibited. Some famous digital companies are Flipkart and Amazon.[ 50 ]

Legislation/Legal Framework for E-Pharmacies

As of now, no exact rules are administering E-drug stores in India, and this is a significant inhibitor to the online drug store market in India. All online drug stores are working according to the D and C Act, 1940; D and C Rule, 1945; Pharmacy Act, 1948; and IT Act, 2000. The Union Health Ministry in August 2018 came out with draft rules on the offer of medicines by E-drug stores to control the online offer of medications and availability of genuine drugs from certifiable online sites.

While the E-commerce business comes under the territory of the IT Act, 2000, the laws governing the sale of drugs in India come within the scope of the D and C Act, 1940, the D and C Rules, 1945, the Pharmacist Act 1948, and the Indian Medical Act, 1956. However, the law mentioned in the said Acts neither authorizes nor blocks the online sale of medicines in India. The precolonial regulations of India fail to deal with the recent growth of the online pharmacy market within the country. No separate rules/regulations have been molded for the online pharmacy in India.[ 51 ]

At present, E-pharmacies in India follow the D and C Act 1940, D and C Rules 1945, Pharmacy Act 1948, and the Indian Medical Act, 1956. However, the electronic sale of physician-prescribed drugs from online drug store sites is expressed under the IT Act, 2000.

By October 2017, the GoI had issued the first draft of a bill about E-pharmacy. The draft rules were the need of the hour as the lawful battles and procedures restricting the extension of E-drug stores in the nation became very prominent. In addition, because the principles at that point said nothing regarding E-drug stores, an administrative structure to oversee this area has gotten important to check criminal and risky movement.[ 52 ]

Key highlights of the E-pharmacy draft guidelines

Administrative authority.

• E-pharmacies are, as of now, managed by state drug controllers. According to the parent organization, permitting approvals for E-pharmacies should be given by the DCGI
• The DCGI will work as indicated by the D and C Rules, 1945, just as the IT Act, 2000 under which E-trade organizations are managed
• Companies running E-pharmacies are urged to apply for one permit in any state that will permit them to sell/trade drugs across the nation
• The E-portal would likewise need to go by the procedures of the D and C Act, 1940. Nonadherence could lead to prompt suspension and the end of the E-gateway.

Registration of E-pharmacy

• To run an E-pharmacy, the applicant should register with the central licensing authority (CLA) by filling up Form 18AA alongside giving an amount of Indian Rupee (INR) 50,000 and producing the fundamental records through the Central Government website. A registered certificate is essential to sell, circulate, keep stock, show, or offer medicines to any individual through the E-portal
• Registration remains valid for a long period from the date of issue
• If the application for renewal of the license is not made within a ½ year after expiry, the establishment is considered to be obsolete
• The E-pharmacy licensee must always permit legal groups of the CLA to conduct standard investigations every 2 years
• The licensee needs to submit a hard copy to the CLA for any adjustments in the constitution of the firm working under the enlistment that he/she may have made.

Verification

• The registered pharmacist must authenticate the particulars of the patient, enrolled medical professional, and administer medications according to the prescription provided by the prescriber. The data of the meds apportioned alongside the patient details are to be saved on the E-pharmacy entry.

Medications that cannot be sold at the E-drug store entrance

Drugs mentioned under the opiate and psychotropic classes are not to be dealt with by the E-pharmacy enlistment holder as referenced in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Confidentiality of information generated through the portal

It will be obligatory for the E-drug store to keep the entirety of its client information secret and secure but will be compelled to honor any data to the State or the Central Government, at whatever point fundamental, for general well-being reasons.

Helpline and complaint redressal

E-pharmacy will be needed to keep the entirety of its client data secret; however, it should oblige to deliver any data to the State or the Central Government, at whatever point required.

Data collection

An E-pharmacy portal is a setup, which contains all the information created and is limited to the country. The information produced through the E-pharmacy entry cannot be sent or put away, using all means, outside the nation.

Promotion and exposure

E-pharmacies are restricted to publicize on any media stage.

Government Initiatives for E-health Services in the Country

Digital india.

The GoI has launched Digital India a flagship program with a dream to change India into a carefully digitized society and information economy by providing high-speed internet and digital literacy in rural areas. Under that, the E-hospital application aims to provide important healthcare administrations, for example, online enlistment, installment of charges and arrangement, online demonstrative reports, and improving the accessibility of blood banks on the web.

e-Kranti is a subprogram of the Digital India program. e-Kranti aims at ensuring public benefits electronically to the citizens of India through consolidated and practicable arrangements by various methods while ensuring the utmost authenticity and reliability of such organizations at affordable costs.[ 53 ]

Jan aushadhi program

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana , launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, addresses the issues of expanding drug costs in our nation. Jan aushadhi program is focused on creating awareness through education and providing generic medicines at affordable prices without compromising the quality of medicines.[ 54 ]

Common services center

The common services centers (CSCs) aim at improving the digital infrastructure along with the digital empowerment of the citizens. At present, it has approximately 250,000 hubs across the country to deliver various services and products in the country, especially in remote areas.[ 55 ]

One such service is “Telemedicine”

Through telemedicine, CSCs give expert healthcare advice to patients in distant territories of the nation. The village-level entrepreneur (VLE) fills in as an arbiter between the well-being specialist organization and the patient. He/she books the appointments, collects the information from the patient, which includes samples or video recordings, and forwards it to the doctor. In return, the doctor provides the VLE with a printed prescription and other such diagnostic information related to the ailment.[ 56 ]

National E-Health Authority

The MoHFW, in 2015, proposed to set up the National E-health Authority as a regulatory and standard-setting organization for the emerging usage of electronic media in the field of healthcare. This E-health ecosystem in India is aimed at providing quality and cost-effective services by using the information in a transparent manner and communication technologies to reach a large base of customers.[ 57 ]

Integrated health information program

This program was developed with the view of managing healthcare-related records efficiently and with utmost transparency. These citizens can access electronic healthcare records on a single platform, i.e., the Integrated Health Information Platform. This sort of integration and interoperability of the electronic health records through extensive health information exchange promotes better continuity and quality of care, affordable treatment, transparency in data management, better determination of sicknesses, ideal data trade to help better well-being results, better choice of a supportive network, and at last encouraging improvement in the changes of therapy and care of general well-being at national level.[ 58 ]

In 2016, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) introduced SUGAM, an online licensing portal, wherein applications for various processes such as application submission, processing, and grant of permission for delivery of services can be carried out swiftly. Its advantages include application for permit under import and enlistment division to CDSCO, tracking the status of submitted applications, and replying to raised queries. The applicant can likewise transfer fundamental documents for an enrolment import permit and other related exercises.[ 59 ]

Comparison with other countries

Country-wide, North America represented chief portions of the worldwide E-drug store market because of the rise of programming innovation in the clinical sector. North America has the biggest E-drug store market worldwide. High users of app-based pharmacies, increasing presence of online retail pharmacies and increasing web dependent population are the significant factors that fill the worldwide E-drug store market. There are eminent central members and advances in the drug and other life sciences enterprises that demand a greater amount of the E-drug store market. The United States (US) is the biggest fragment of the E-drug stores market because of its familiarity with well-being and health and rising chronic diseases in the nation. Increasing geriatric population with the chronic diseases, rising penetration of e-commerce, and rapid adoption of the digital technologies are the prominent factors that propelled the growth of E-drug store market in US. As of now, the FDA has given more data about the E-drug store to the residents, which essentially affects the development of the E-drug store market.

Europe's E-drug store market is directed by strict guidelines from the public authority, all things being equal; the development of the E-pharma industry is moderate. E-drug store is one of the most trending in both developing and developed countries of Europe. Southern European countries and Germany have been estimated to have potential for growth I E-drug store space. Expanded sponsorship from the IT sector and taking up of cloud-based innovation in each application are expanding the prerequisite for the E-drug store market.

The Asia-Pacific is second most elevated in driving the interest of the market. Asia-Pacific is required to arrive at the most elevated piece of the pie in the long run because of the rising populace and presence of huge patients. China and India are nations with a generous populace and with conspicuous vital participants that can quicken the interest in the E-drug store industry in this region.

The Middle East and Africa are best-in-class districts that have space for improvement in the years to come. Both these areas will assume a huge function in the fate of the E-drug store industry on a worldwide scale. A few developed nations such as the US, Australia, Canada, and European nations have administrative bodies such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which is characterized by an administration-checked web drug store locale such as Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. These platforms identify legal and illegal sites, which determine the authenticity of sites. The Indian Government ought to likewise structure a similar platform for the smooth functioning of the E-pharmacy sector.

New York does not consider physical prescriptions. China is setting up mobile clinical centers that aim to provide immediate services and medicines to the public. Numerous E-drug stores follow the Pill Pack way of administration, where medicines are prepared and packed in advance according to the days and time measurement.[ 60 ]

Conclusion and the Road Ahead

The importance of Indian online pharmacy was not highlighted up until the SARS COVID-19 pandemic. Owing to the lack of regulations, this sector remained stagnant in terms of growth for a long period; however, this industry has witnessed a surge in its demand in recent times. With the enforcement of the lockdown, the demand for medicines increased considerably, and many customers resorted to purchasing medicines online due to precautionary measures. Due to the closure of interstate borders, mobility became an issue, and the movement of the workforce was affected greatly. For geriatric patients and those with chronic ailments, E-pharmacy was looked at as a survival means. Job opportunities have opened up in streams such as IT, Pharmaceutics, and other healthcare sectors due to the work-from-home situation. With the up-and-coming online industries such as the E-pharmacy, many people will gain employment.

The Government should work on a robust policy and provide clear-cut laws to provide a friendly environment for existing players. This provision may encourage more entrepreneurs to enter the sector and add to the general development of the online pharma business market in India. The successful installation of a rigid framework will increase the number of entrepreneurs, thereby providing affordable alternatives and accessibility to remote areas of the country.

E-pharmacies have given us a clear and accessible path to medicines. This path will be of great importance might we face similar health emergencies in the years to come. E-pharmacy will play a major role in streamlining chronic ailments, and with the initiatives of the Government, its facilities will be accessible to unreserved regions. Moreover, the collaboration of the offline and online pharmacies will be highly beneficial to the customers. It will also boost the country's economy significantly by attracting many entrepreneurs for investment and unleashing innovation across the healthcare value chain while dramatically improving access to medicines and healthcare quality across the nation.

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Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Competitiveness and its impact on research and development in Indian pharmaceutical industry

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• Published: 28 July 2015
• Volume 42 , pages 325–334, ( 2015 )

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The Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the leading industries in the world which captures a significant global market share and that attracts many investors to invest in this industry. MNCs have entered into the Indian pharmaceutical market and invest a lot of money in research and development to capture the lucrative profits. This paper attempts to examine the degree of competitiveness among the firms in Indian pharmaceutical industry and examine the persistent impact of Research and Development of the competitive pharmaceutical firms. This paper also examines the impact of market structure and market performance on Research and Development in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. The industry is highly competitive and highly competitive pharmaceutical firms have been investing more on R&D persistently. There is an increasing trend of R&D investment over the time period by the pharmaceutical firms due to significant market structure and performance of the past period.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are indebted to Professor Ajitava Ray Choudhury of Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India for his valuable help and necessary comments. But, the usual disclaimer applies. Authors are also indebted to the Reviewers of the Journal ‘Decision’ for their valuable comments.

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Das, P., Das, S. Competitiveness and its impact on research and development in Indian pharmaceutical industry. Decision 42 , 325–334 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40622-015-0099-8

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explains the “Pharmaceutical Patents and Public Health” article by S K. Verma which investigates the connection between pharmaceutical patents and public health. The study investigates the intricate relationship between intellectual property rights, access to medications, and the delivery of healthcare services.

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India Pharmaceutical Industry Research 2024: $105+ Billion Market Trends, Regional Insights, Competition, Forecasts and Opportunities, 2020-2030

Indian Pharmaceutical Market

Dublin, Sept. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Pharmaceutical Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2020-2030F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. India Pharmaceutical Market was valued at USD 65.20 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 106.67 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 8.75%

This expansion is largely attributed to the country's robust domestic market and its prominence as a global hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation. The domestic market benefits from a growing middle class, increased healthcare awareness, and significant government initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and infrastructure. For instance, programs like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) are designed to provide health coverage to economically disadvantaged segments, thereby boosting demand for pharmaceuticals.

In addition to domestic growth, India has established itself as a major player in the global pharmaceutical industry, particularly through its export of generic medicines. Indian pharmaceutical companies supply over 60% of the world's vaccines and approximately 20% of generic drugs, demonstrating their capability to provide high-quality, cost-effective solutions on a global scale. This position has been reinforced by the country's competitive advantage in the production of generics, which helps meet global healthcare needs at affordable prices. Despite its impressive growth, the Indian pharmaceutical market faces several challenges that could impact its future trajectory. One of the primary issues is the complex regulatory environment. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is responsible for overseeing drug regulation in India, and while efforts have been made to streamline processes, navigating regulatory requirements remains a challenge for many companies. Compliance with stringent regulations is necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, but it can also create barriers to entry and increase operational costs. Another significant challenge is the issue of price controls. The Indian government imposes price controls on essential drugs to make healthcare affordable for the masses. While this policy aims to benefit consumers, it can also affect the profitability of pharmaceutical companies and their capacity to invest in research and development. Price controls can constrain revenue growth and limit the resources available for innovation and expansion. Key Market Drivers Growing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases The Indian pharmaceutical market is witnessing robust growth, driven significantly by the escalating prevalence of chronic diseases. This trend is reshaping the healthcare landscape and creating substantial opportunities for pharmaceutical companies. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer are becoming increasingly common in India, presenting both challenges and prospects for the pharmaceutical industry. Rise in Generic Drug Industry India's pharmaceutical industry stands as a colossal force in the global healthcare landscape, with the generic drug sector playing a pivotal role in its remarkable growth. The rise of the generic drug industry is not merely a facet of the Indian pharmaceutical market but a significant driver shaping its trajectory. This sector's expansion is catalyzing India's emergence as a global hub for affordable and accessible medication, and its influence on the domestic market is profound and multifaceted.

Growing Demand of Biopharmaceuticals The Indian pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a transformative shift, with biopharmaceuticals emerging as a significant growth driver. This trend reflects a broader global movement towards biologics and advanced therapies, underscoring India's evolving role in the international pharmaceutical landscape. The increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals is reshaping the industry, driven by a confluence of factors that highlight both opportunities and challenges. The growing focus on biosimilars is also playing a crucial role in the expansion of biopharmaceuticals in India. Biosimilars, which are biologic products highly similar to an already approved reference product, offer a cost-effective alternative to expensive biologic therapies. The Indian pharmaceutical industry is well-positioned to leverage its expertise in generics to develop and market biosimilars, thereby increasing access to essential biologic treatments. This not only meets domestic healthcare needs but also strengthens India's position in the global biopharmaceutical market. Regional Insights Based on Region, West India have emerged as the dominating region in the India Pharmaceutical Market in 2024. West India, particularly the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, benefits from a well-developed industrial infrastructure that has significantly contributed to its dominance in the pharmaceutical market. Maharashtra, with Mumbai as its commercial hub, offers a thriving ecosystem for pharmaceutical companies. The city is home to a substantial number of multinational corporations (MNCs) and domestic pharmaceutical firms, drawn by its advanced infrastructure, availability of skilled talent, and proximity to major ports. This geographical advantage facilitates efficient import and export operations, essential for global pharmaceutical trade. Gujarat, another key player in West India, has emerged as a pharmaceutical powerhouse due to its conducive business environment and government policies that favor industrial growth. The state government has implemented several initiatives to attract pharmaceutical investments, including offering incentives for setting up manufacturing units and research facilities. Gujarat's well-established chemical and pharmaceutical industrial parks, such as the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estates, provide companies with the necessary infrastructure and logistical support to thrive. The presence of a strong network of research and development (R&D) facilities further cements West India's position in the pharmaceutical sector. The region is home to numerous R&D centers and institutions that foster innovation and support pharmaceutical development. Collaboration between academia and industry in West India has led to significant advancements in drug development and manufacturing processes. The region's focus on R&D is crucial in maintaining a competitive edge in the global pharmaceutical market, particularly in the development of generic drugs and specialty pharmaceuticals.

Key Attributes:

Key Market Players

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Divis Laboratories Limited

Cipla Limited

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited

Torrent Pharmaceutical Limited

Zydus Lifesciences Limited

Abbott India Limited

Alkem Laboratories Limited

Biocon Limited

Lupin Limited

Mankind Pharma Limited

Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited

Piramal Enterprises Limited

Wockhardt Limited

Glenmark Pharma Limited

Report Scope India Pharmaceutical Market, By Type:

Pharmaceutical Drugs

India Pharmaceutical Market, By Drug Classification:

Branded Drugs

Generic Drugs

India Pharmaceutical Market, By Mode of Purchase:

Prescription-Based Drugs

Over-the-counter Drugs

India Pharmaceutical Market, By Distribution Channel:

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

India Pharmaceutical Market, By Region:

North India

South India

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3e7aba

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