This contribution of India is transformative in health and medical developments in the context of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and innovative medicine. Specifically, as illustrated below:

1. Pharmaceuticals: The Global Medicine Hub For Affordable Generic Medicines

India has emerged as the world’s largest producer of generic medicines. It accounts for nearly 40% of the U.S. generic drug imports and 20% of the global generic exports. This made life-saving treatments more accessible and affordable worldwide.
Impactful contributions
HIV/AIDS: The pharmaceutical firms based in India, like Cipla, have performed an immense service by marketing drugs containing the cheapest antiretroviral (ARV) drugs on earth. This has reduced the treatment costs of African patients from a mere $12,000 to less than $100 per year.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Serum Institute of India (SII) delivered millions of doses to countries worldwide (Covishield, Covovax) to Low and Middle-income countries through the COVAX facility.

APIs
APIs have become an important segment in India – a building block for drugs. It has reduced reliance heavily on a single source of API, especially from China.

2. Biotechnology: A Revolution in Diagnosis and Treatment – Vaccines
India has emerged as a world leader in vaccine manufacturing. Companies like ‘Bharat Biotech’ and Biocon have developed vaccines and biologics that target both global and regional health challenges.

Significant Impact:
– Rotavirus Vaccine: Bharat Biotech developed a low-cost vaccine called ‘Rotavac’. It has reduced child mortality from diarrhea within many developing nations.

COVID-19 Vaccines: It developed ‘Covaxin’, one of the first indigenously developed vaccines for COVID-19.

Biologics and Biosimilars
Biosimilars were led by Indian companies like ‘Biocon’. These are the cheap versions of the biologic drugs used in the treatment, such as conditions like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Such inventions have brought high-end treatments within affordable prices for the world.

3. Medical Devices and Diagnostics Innovations –
Accessible Diagnostics
Indian companies developed cheap diagnostic tools which revolutionized healthcare in resource-poor settings.

– Some Notable Innovations:
– Mylab: The first Indian company to develop ‘COVID-19 RT-PCR testing kits’, which made the test both inexpensive and rapid in this pandemic.
Truenat: Portable diagnostic technology for TB diagnosis. The WHO recommends it for resource-poor areas.

4. Public Health Initiatives and Global Impact

-Eradication of Diseases

Healthcare innovation from India has been significant in the removal of diseases in the globe at large.

– Polio: In 2014, India was declared polio-free by conducting mass immunization that was followed by other countries as a model.
– Leprosy: India has also helped in reducing the prevalence of leprosy globally by mass awareness and treatment campaigns.

Besides, Telemedicine and Digital Health also received strong support from both authorities and citizens, and had relatively rapid growth.
IT has enabled digital health solutions and made the difficult and impossible possible for the unreached population of India. This model is now being emulated in other regions.

A notable example is:
Aarogya Setu: a near-contact COVID-19 exposure notification app, which has been installed more than people in over 100 countries.

5. Intersecting of the Ancient Knowledge System of Medicines and Advanced Health Systems
Traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha are still prevalent in India and are being combined with modern medicine therapy line.

Global Impact:
Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine: Many Indian companies are now peddling their herbal cure and supplements including Patanjali and Himalaya.
Yoga: Being practiced in all corners of the world, United Nation has dedicated June 21 as International Yoga Day.

6. Research and Development commonly abbreviated as R & D.
India has effectively forum in medical research especially oncology, infectious diseases, Genomics.

Notable Contributions:

Genome Mapping: India’s recently launched GenomeIndia Project will map out its population and therefore be of significance for the whole world in the field of personalised medicine.
Cancer Research: Several groups of researchers in India have made significant strides in working for affordable cancers and wedge therapies.

7. International cooperation for effective capacity building
This paper has provided tangible evidence that India has actively participated in capacity building in healthcare domain especially in low and middle income countries.
-Vaccine Diplomacy: During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the successful foreign policies was the “Vaccine Maitri” that India provided vaccines to more than ninety countries which helped to increase the health safety of humanity.

Medical Training: The emigrating Indian doctors and healthcare professionals have been a major positive factor in building up of health care capacities in Africa, middle east , and southeast Asia.

Key Global Impact Metrics:
Contribution – Generic Medicines
Impact – Affordable drugs for millions
Examples – HIV/AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular diseases

Contribution – Vaccine Manufacturing
Impact – Immunization of billions globally
Examples – Polio, COVID-19, Rotavirus vaccines

Contribution – Biologics & Biosimilars
Impact – Cost-effective treatments
Examples – Insulin, cancer therapies

Contribution – Diagnostics
Impact – Early detection in low-resource areas
Examples – Truenat, COVID-19 testing kits

Contribution – Traditional Medicine
Impact – Integrative healthcare
Examples – Ayurveda, Yoga