Medicine Prices in India
India produces 20% of the world's generic medicines. Explore research-based price comparisons, understand the pharmaceutical landscape, and learn why the same drugs cost a fraction of US or UK prices.
Educational content only. This is not medical advice. Prices are approximate, based on published research and public data. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Filter by Category
Amoxicillin
Aminopenicillin (Beta-lactam) Antibiotic
India
₹4 – ₹95
US
$8 – $25
UK
£3 – £9
Azithromycin
Macrolide Antibiotic
India
₹50 – ₹132
US
$10 – $80
UK
£5 – £15
Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Cetirizine Dihydrochloride)
Second-Generation H1 Antihistamine (Non-Sedating)
India
₹15 – ₹45
US
$6 – $14
UK
£2 – £5
Curcuma longa (Turmeric / Haldi / Manjal)
Anti-inflammatory polyphenol / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Herb)
India
₹150 – ₹6,000
US
$8 – $60
UK
£6 – £45
Denosumab
RANKL Inhibitor (Monoclonal Antibody)
India
$60 – $150
US
$1,800 – $2,500
UK
$400 – $800
Difamilast
Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) Inhibitor (Topical)
India
$5 – $15
US
$500 – $800
UK
$150 – $300
Escitalopram Oxalate
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
India
₹3–50 per tablet (generic ₹3–8, branded ₹25–50)
US
$15–400 per month (generic $15–30, branded Lexapro $300–400)
UK
£1–3 per month (NHS prescription), £20–50 private
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
Autophagy Inhibitor / Antimalarial (Repurposed for Oncology)
India
$4 – $7
US
$45 – $120
UK
$15 – $40
Icotrokinra
IL-19 Targeted Biologic
India
$150 – $400
US
$5,000 – $8,000
UK
$2,000 – $4,000
Insulin Glargine
Long-Acting Basal Insulin Analog
India
$12 – $25
US
$300 – $450
UK
$80 – $130
Isotretinoin
Systemic Retinoid (Vitamin A Derivative)
India
₹80–350 per strip (10 capsules)
US
$200–600 per month ($2,000–4,000 full course)
UK
£5–20 per month (NHS), £150–300 private per month
Levothyroxine Sodium
Synthetic Thyroid Hormone (T4)
India
₹55–180 per bottle of 120 tablets (₹0.45–1.50 per tablet)
US
$15–50 per month (generic), $100–200 (branded Synthroid)
UK
£9.27 per 28 tablets (NHS indicative), free on NHS prescription
Metformin Hydrochloride
Biguanide (Oral Antihyperglycemic)
India
$1 – $5
US
$4 – $30
UK
$2 – $20
Omeprazole
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
India
₹40 – ₹62
US
$10 – $25
UK
£3 – £8
Orforglipron (GLP-1 Receptor Agonist)
Non-Peptide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
India
$15 – $45
US
$149 – $349
UK
$120 – $280
Pantoprazole
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
India
₹95 – ₹140
US
$10 – $25
UK
£5 – £12
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
Analgesic / Antipyretic (Non-opioid)
India
₹10 – ₹45
US
$5 – $12
UK
£1 – £5
Phyllanthus emblica / Emblica officinalis (Amla / Indian Gooseberry / Amalaki / Nellikai)
Vitamin C source / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Rejuvenative)
India
₹40 – ₹2,400
US
$6 – $40
UK
£5 – £30
Semaglutide
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (Peptide)
India
$25 – $50
US
$800 – $1,350
UK
$250 – $400
Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy / Guduchi / Amrita)
Immunomodulator / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Herb)
India
₹40 – ₹6,500
US
$8 – $35
UK
£6 – £28
Trastuzumab
HER2-Targeted Monoclonal Antibody
India
$200 – $500
US
$4,500 – $6,000
UK
$1,500 – $3,000
Vepdegestrant
Heterobifunctional Protein Degrader (ER Degrader)
India
$800 – $1,500
US
$12,000 – $18,000
UK
$8,000 – $12,000
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
Adaptogen / Herbal Supplement (Rasayana)
India
₹123 – ₹1,399
US
$15 – $40
UK
£10 – £30
No medicines match this filter.
Drug Price Comparison — India vs US vs UK
Approximate prices per month supply. Based on publicly available pricing data.
| Medicine | Category | India | US | UK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin Aminopenicillin (Beta-lactam) Antibiotic | Antibiotic | ₹4 – ₹95 | $8 – $25 | £3 – £9 | ~100% |
| Azithromycin Macrolide Antibiotic | Antibiotic | ₹50 – ₹132 | $10 – $80 | £5 – £15 | ~100% |
| Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Cetirizine Dihydrochloride) Second-Generation H1 Antihistamine (Non-Sedating) | Respiratory | ₹15 – ₹45 | $6 – $14 | £2 – £5 | ~100% |
| Curcuma longa (Turmeric / Haldi / Manjal) Anti-inflammatory polyphenol / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Herb) | Other | ₹150 – ₹6,000 | $8 – $60 | £6 – £45 | ~100% |
| Denosumab RANKL Inhibitor (Monoclonal Antibody) | Other | $60 – $150 | $1,800 – $2,500 | $400 – $800 | ~97% |
| Difamilast Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) Inhibitor (Topical) | Dermatological | $5 – $15 | $500 – $800 | $150 – $300 | ~99% |
| Escitalopram Oxalate Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) | Psychiatric | ₹3–50 per tablet (generic ₹3–8, branded ₹25–50) | $15–400 per month (generic $15–30, branded Lexapro $300–400) | £1–3 per month (NHS prescription), £20–50 private | ~100% |
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Autophagy Inhibitor / Antimalarial (Repurposed for Oncology) | Oncology | $4 – $7 | $45 – $120 | $15 – $40 | ~91% |
| Icotrokinra IL-19 Targeted Biologic | Dermatological | $150 – $400 | $5,000 – $8,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 | ~97% |
| Insulin Glargine Long-Acting Basal Insulin Analog | Diabetes | $12 – $25 | $300 – $450 | $80 – $130 | ~96% |
| Isotretinoin Systemic Retinoid (Vitamin A Derivative) | Dermatological | ₹80–350 per strip (10 capsules) | $200–600 per month ($2,000–4,000 full course) | £5–20 per month (NHS), £150–300 private per month | ~100% |
| Levothyroxine Sodium Synthetic Thyroid Hormone (T4) | Hormonal | ₹55–180 per bottle of 120 tablets (₹0.45–1.50 per tablet) | $15–50 per month (generic), $100–200 (branded Synthroid) | £9.27 per 28 tablets (NHS indicative), free on NHS prescription | ~100% |
| Metformin Hydrochloride Biguanide (Oral Antihyperglycemic) | Diabetes | $1 – $5 | $4 – $30 | $2 – $20 | ~75% |
| Omeprazole Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) | Gastrointestinal | ₹40 – ₹62 | $10 – $25 | £3 – £8 | ~100% |
| Orforglipron (GLP-1 Receptor Agonist) Non-Peptide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist | Diabetes | $15 – $45 | $149 – $349 | $120 – $280 | ~90% |
| Pantoprazole Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) | Gastrointestinal | ₹95 – ₹140 | $10 – $25 | £5 – £12 | ~100% |
| Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Analgesic / Antipyretic (Non-opioid) | Pain & Inflammation | ₹10 – ₹45 | $5 – $12 | £1 – £5 | ~100% |
| Phyllanthus emblica / Emblica officinalis (Amla / Indian Gooseberry / Amalaki / Nellikai) Vitamin C source / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Rejuvenative) | Other | ₹40 – ₹2,400 | $6 – $40 | £5 – £30 | ~100% |
| Semaglutide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (Peptide) | Diabetes | $25 – $50 | $800 – $1,350 | $250 – $400 | ~97% |
| Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy / Guduchi / Amrita) Immunomodulator / Rasayana (Ayurvedic Herb) | Other | ₹40 – ₹6,500 | $8 – $35 | £6 – £28 | ~100% |
| Trastuzumab HER2-Targeted Monoclonal Antibody | Oncology | $200 – $500 | $4,500 – $6,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 | ~96% |
| Vepdegestrant Heterobifunctional Protein Degrader (ER Degrader) | Oncology | $800 – $1,500 | $12,000 – $18,000 | $8,000 – $12,000 | ~93% |
| Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) Adaptogen / Herbal Supplement (Rasayana) | Other | ₹123 – ₹1,399 | $15 – $40 | £10 – £30 | ~100% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding India's pharmaceutical landscape.
1 Why are medicines so cheap in India?
India is the world's largest producer of generic medicines. The Indian Patents Act allows compulsory licensing, Indian pharma companies have lower manufacturing costs, and the government regulates drug prices through the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Over 60% of the world's vaccines and 20% of all generic drugs come from India.
2 Are generic medicines from India FDA-approved?
Many Indian pharmaceutical companies are approved by the US FDA, UK MHRA, and WHO. Companies like Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, and Lupin export to over 200 countries. However, not every brand or formulation sold in India has US FDA approval — the regulatory landscape varies by product.
3 What is the difference between generic and branded drugs?
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient, dosage, and form as the branded original. They must demonstrate bioequivalence — meaning they work the same way in the body. The price difference exists because generic manufacturers don't bear the original R&D costs and face market competition.
4 How does India regulate drug prices?
India's National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) controls prices of essential medicines under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) covers 300+ drugs with price caps. Additionally, the Jan Aushadhi scheme provides quality generics at 50-90% lower prices through government pharmacies.
5 What are biosimilars and why is India a leader?
Biosimilars are near-identical copies of biologic drugs (complex protein-based medicines). India was among the first countries to establish biosimilar guidelines (2012) and is a major manufacturer. Indian biosimilars for drugs like Trastuzumab, Rituximab, and Adalimumab are exported globally and approved by WHO, EMA, and other regulators.
Planning a medical trip to India?
We help international patients connect with accredited hospitals. Send us your requirements and get guidance within 48 hours — completely free.