Lalitha, N. --- "Access to Indian Generic Drugs: Emerging Issues" [2011] ELECD 961; in Shadlen, C. Kenneth; Guennif, Samira; Guzmán , Alenka; Lalitha, N. (eds), "Intellectual Property, Pharmaceuticals and Public Health" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Intellectual Property, Pharmaceuticals and Public Health

Editor(s): Shadlen, C. Kenneth; Guennif, Samira; Guzmán , Alenka; Lalitha, N.

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849800143

Section: Chapter 9

Section Title: Access to Indian Generic Drugs: Emerging Issues

Author(s): Lalitha, N.

Number of pages: 28

Extract:

9. Access to Indian generic drugs:
emerging issues
N. Lalitha

The focus of this chapter is on access to generic drugs1 produced by the
Indian pharmaceutical industry. Globally, about 60 developing countries
have no pharmaceutical industry and 87 have capacity to make finished
products only (Cullet, 2005). The Indian pharmaceutical industry (IPI),
with its 8 per cent share in global pharmaceutical production, over
the years has grown to become an important generic supplier to such
countries. India now accounts for 20 per cent of the world's generic supply
(IDMA, 2010). Two thirds of the drugs produced in India are exported,
with destinations in North America, the European Union, CIS countries
and West Africa in that order (Table 9.1).
Drugs produced in India satisfy 95 per cent of the domestic demand
(EXIM Bank, 2007). Though production of drugs is not an issue in India,
access to drugs is an issue of concern since health cover is limited to a
small percentage of the population in India. Private out of pocket health
expenditure is estimated at 84 per cent of the total health expenditure,
because of the limited public health expenditure which is estimated at less
than one per cent of GDP. The National Sample Survey on Consumer
Expenditure (55th Round) reports that, respectively, 77 and 70 per cent of
the health expenditure in rural and urban areas is on medicines. Therefore,
out of pocket medical costs alone may push 2.2 per cent of the population
below the poverty ...