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India Weighs Global Tenders to Procure High-Priority Patented Medicines

While current procurement policy restricts global tenders for contracts below Rs 200 crore to support local industry, exemptions can be granted when domestic availability is inadequate.

• By Newsdesk
• New Delhi
• Nov 23, 2025

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The Indian government is considering issuing global tenders for a select group of high-priority patented medicines, including treatments for obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Over 65 patented and proprietary drugs are being evaluated for international procurement, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide for diabetes and weight management, and evolocumab for cholesterol control. These medicines are needed for major national supply programmes run by bodies like the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), especially in areas where domestic manufacturing is limited.

While current procurement policy restricts global tenders for contracts below ₹200 crore to support local industry, exemptions can be granted when domestic availability is inadequate. Earlier this year, 128 medicines and vaccines were exempted from these tender restrictions until March 2027. In line with this approach, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) issued a notice on November 21 inviting objections from Indian manufacturers regarding the proposed inclusion of these patented drugs in the global-tender list. Objections can be submitted until December 5, though several of these formulations have not yet been launched in India. The final decision will be taken after consultations between the DoP, the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

Opening global tenders is expected to improve access to critical therapies and may lead to more competitive pricing. At the same time, the move highlights gaps in local production capabilities for advanced patented drugs. Domestic manufacturers still have an opportunity to respond, demonstrate their capacity and influence the final procurement strategy, as the government weighs global sourcing against long-term self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector.