India needs to build stronger and more reliable healthcare supply chains while increasing its focus on research, innovation and global integration, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said at the Bharat Health Global Expo 2026 in New Delhi.
Goyal said India has earned a reputation as the “pharmacy of the world” through its strong generic drug industry, but the country now needs to move toward higher-value pharmaceutical development. He emphasized the importance of expanding research and development in areas such as new drug molecules, biosimilars and biotechnology to strengthen India’s position in the global healthcare market.
A key priority, according to the minister, is rebuilding resilience across India’s pharmaceutical supply chain. He specifically pointed to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Key Starting Materials, which are essential components of drug manufacturing. Greater domestic capability in these areas could help reduce vulnerabilities and ensure more dependable access to critical pharmaceutical inputs.
Goyal also encouraged Indian healthcare and pharmaceutical companies to adopt a more global approach. Rather than focusing only on exports from India, he suggested that businesses consider investing in overseas markets to establish local value addition and improve last-mile delivery. Such investments could help Indian companies become more deeply integrated into international healthcare ecosystems.
The minister also called for greater use of India’s Research and Development Innovation Fund to encourage the development of advanced healthcare products and technologies. He stressed the importance of aligning India’s regulatory systems more closely with those of developed economies, arguing that greater regulatory compatibility could make the country more attractive to international investors.
Infrastructure is another major component of India’s healthcare expansion plans. Goyal said bulk drug parks are being developed in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The government also plans to establish 100 new industrial parks offering plug-and-play infrastructure for pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses.
Medical value travel was another area highlighted by the minister. He said nearly $8 billion is spent through medical value travel and called for the sector to be developed through a coordinated, mission-driven approach.
Goyal also pointed to India’s expanding network of free trade agreements. While India’s trade agreements before 2014 covered markets representing around $10 trillion in combined GDP, nine newer agreements have expanded that potential market access to approximately $60 trillion. India is additionally negotiating 8 to 10 more FTAs, with the broader objective of gaining access to markets representing about 75% of global trade.
Together, these measures reflect India’s effort to combine healthcare self-reliance with deeper participation in global markets.
