Chinese Imports Indian Medicines

Indian companies are the main supplier of generic drugs to the world and procure almost 70 per centof the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for their medicines from China. The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted international businesses dependent on Chinese supplies.

China on Monday said it has initiated specific measures for the import of Indian pharmaceuticals, specially anti-cancer medicines, to provide them "greater access" to the Chinese market, days after a Chinese movie on a leukaemia patient highlighted the need for paving the way for import of cheap Indian medicines.

China's much-publicised announcement to slash tariffs on 28 medicines, including cancer drugs from India, has failed to create any buzz among the Indian pharmaceutical firms as exports to China are possible only after lengthy field trials and approvals, which could take years, an official at an Indian firm has said.

Indian companies are the main supplier of generic drugs to the world and procure almost 70 per centof the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for their medicines from China. The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted international businesses dependent on Chinese supplies.

China on Monday said it has initiated specific measures for the import of Indian pharmaceuticals, specially anti-cancer medicines, to provide them "greater access" to the Chinese market, days after a Chinese movie on a leukaemia patient highlighted the need for paving the way for import of cheap Indian medicines.

China's much-publicised announcement to slash tariffs on 28 medicines, including cancer drugs from India, has failed to create any buzz among the Indian pharmaceutical firms as exports to China are possible only after lengthy field trials and approvals, which could take years, an official at an Indian firm has said.