Work

India's Health Diplomacy: Advancing Pharmaceutical and MedTech Leadership in the Global South

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Health diplomacy has become a pivotal aspect of India's engagement with the Global South, intertwining foreign policy, public health, and global collaboration to address disparities while pursuing strategic interests. India's pharmaceutical industry, which accounts for nearly 20% of the world's generics, has positioned the nation as the “pharmacy of the world,” particularly through its significant contributions to HIV/AIDS treatment and the COVID‐19 Vaccine Maitri program. In parallel, India's emerging medical technology (MedTech) sector has expanded access to affordable diagnostics, ventilators, telemedicine, and digital health innovations, with significant implications for healthcare delivery in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This article analyzes the dual function of India's pharmaceutical and MedTech industries in shaping health diplomacy, highlighting their transformative impact on global health governance, South–South collaboration, and capacity development. Despite challenges such as regulatory barriers, geopolitical rivalry, and reliance on active pharmaceutical ingredients, India is at the forefront of global health collaborations, thanks to its cost advantages, innovation, and digital health. It is thus of interest to analyse India's shifting health diplomacy as both a humanitarian and a strategic endeavour to spread sustainable healthcare solutions globally.

Source: World Medical & Health Policy

DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.70065

Authors: Gaurav Chanderprakash Mittal, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Prakash Narayanan, Rahul Clare, Cherian Varghese

Institutions: University of Toronto, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Semey Medical University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Language: English

Topic: Biotechnology and Related Fields

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Partnerships for the goals, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,900