10 Facts About Prescription Drug Prices India

6. Export impact — savings for foreign markets

Indian exports have a measurable impact on drug prices abroad. One analysis finds that Americans saved an estimated $219 billion on prescriptions in 2022 due to imports of lower-cost generics, with total savings of about $1.3 trillion over the last decade attributed in part to global generics supply including India. These savings occur because Indian producers supply off-patent drugs at markedly lower prices than many domestic producers in importing markets. For policy-makers and health-system buyers, access to affordable generic supplies from India reduces program costs and expands treatment access. That role has drawn international attention and some political debate about reliance on foreign suppliers for essential medicines. Still, for individual patients, the immediate effect of Indian generics enters through lower list prices, wider availability, and more competitive options on pharmacy shelves.