India's Healthcare Model Draws Developing-Economy Interest
A report says India's pharmaceutical and public health approach could be emulated by developing economies.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Healthcare
Assahifa published a report stating India's healthcare model can be emulated by developing economies. Indian pharmaceutical exports reached $31 billion in FY26, up from $2 billion in FY21.
Why it matters
India supplies about one-fifth of the world's generic medicines by volume and reaches more than 190 countries, making its health sector a significant factor in global access to medicines. The report frames its model as a reference point for other developing nations.
Indian pharmaceutical exports rose from $2 billion in FY21 to $31 billion in FY26, with the country producing around 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories. The report does not detail how these figures would translate to outcomes in other economies.
The players
Assahifa
A Moroccan publication that reported on India's healthcare model and its potential relevance to developing economies.
The details
The report highlights India's position as a supplier to highly regulated markets, including the United States and Europe, and notes a shift toward higher-value production such as injectables, biosimilars, and complex formulations. It also cites the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which has supported over 130 million treatments and is supported by more than 187,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs providing primary care.
Timeline
FY21: Indian pharmaceutical exports were $2 billion.
Covid-19 pandemic: India supplied hundreds of millions of vaccine doses to dozens of countries through the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
FY26: Indian pharmaceutical exports reached $31 billion.
Healthcare Landscape
The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which has reached 600 million beneficiaries, is central to the report's argument that India's public health financing can serve as a template. Its scale positions India's model as a case study in publicly funded primary and secondary care in a low- and middle-income setting.
For readers in other developing economies, the report suggests policymakers may look to India's combination of generic drug manufacturing and public health insurance as a model. Consumers in importing countries may see continued access to affordable generic medicines as India's export base expands.
The takeaway
Scale in generic manufacturing and public health coverage has become a central part of India's international health profile. Readers following global health access should watch how these models are adopted or adapted elsewhere.
Further reading
Explore more on Healthcare to see how pharmaceutical and public health systems compare across markets.
