Retail sales of traditional, Western medicines reached $12.66 bn in Dec 2022 against $8.84 bn in Dec 2021, finds National Bureau of Statistics. Month-over-month sales rose by 41.8%.
China uses donkey hides as a key ingredient in ejiao, a traditional medicine. Pakistan has decided to export donkeys to help friend China meet its demand.
The export of pharmaceuticals, especially generics and drug formulations, is one of India’s strengths. But China has been steadily eroding India’s advantage.
We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pakistan sees as its moment in the sun.
COMMENTS