Why India Imports Most Cancer Drugs: A Doctor Explains Key Reasons

• Most effective and modern cancer drugs are imported from abroad, despite India's strong pharmaceutical industry.
• Dr. Shyam Agarwal states the biggest reason is the extensive R&D investment (10-15 years, billions of dollars) by Western pharmaceutical companies.
• New cancer drugs require precise, targeted therapy due to constantly changing cancer cells, an area where India lacks R&D infrastructure and funding.
• Foreign companies hold patents for new drugs for 20 years under international IP laws, preventing Indian companies from manufacturing generic versions.
• India relies on imports for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and lacks advanced biotech labs for modern treatments like biologics and gene therapy.