While fentanyl from China kills and ruins young lives, another set of drugs land in USA from India. These are generic drugs – affordable versions of proven branded medicines- which help save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to a better life for America’s aged. And yet these too are under threat from Trump’s stated policy of reciprocal tariffs. Unless action is taken quickly, fentanyl will be equated with the lifesaving anti-depressant sertraline.
India imposes 10% + import duties on imported drugs and has caps on the pricing of several medicines under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). The twin combination of DPCO and the encouragement given to domestic production of bulk drugs and formulations has created several Indian pharma champions which are now putting down roots in countries as diverse as South Africa, Uzbekistan, and the United States of America. Unfortunately, American drug majors like Pfizer and Eli Lilly are in the news for threatening not to launch their new drugs in India or for opposing price caps on their products. They need to work with the Indian government to get tariffs down to zero and suggest differential pricing for medications available through public hospitals.
