India's generic medicine powerhouse faces the API self-reliance challenge

For millions of patients around the world, an affordable medicine often begins its journey in an Indian factory. From life-saving cancer drugs to everyday antibiotics, India's pharmaceutical industry has earned a reputation for producing quality medicines at prices few countries can match. Yet behind this remarkable success lies a less visible reality. While India leads the world in generic medicines, much of the chemistry that powers those medicines still comes from outside its borders, raising important questions about long-term self-reliance.