Homeopathy access likely to expand using allopathic retail networks

In a push for alternative medicines, India is planning to direct allopathic drug wholesale dealers to stock and distribute homoeopathy medicines in the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical market by volume, as per two officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

- Priyanka Sharma

India is planning to direct allopathic drug wholesale dealers to stock and distribute homoeopathy medicines.

(MINT)

The development is significant for India’s pharmaceutical market, valued at $50 billion and largely dominated by allopathic medicines. By comparison, the homoeopathy segment is worth around $847 million.

A proposal from Ayush ministry was discussed last month by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to promote homoeopathy medicines across India. The plan is to amend Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, allowing wholesale drug distributors to stock and distribute homoeopathy drugs.