For many years, some countries have been called the “world’s pharmacy” because they produce large amounts of affordable medicines. Their focus has mainly been on making medicines in high volumes at low cost. This helped improve availability and made treatment cheaper for millions of people.
However, the challenge now is to move from focusing only on quantity to focusing on value. Value means better quality, innovation, safety, and stronger healthcare systems. Two governments, located far from each other, introduced important policy changes about 14 years apart. Both had similar goals: to make medicines more affordable and easily available to people.
These reforms encouraged local production, improved pricing systems, and supported research. As a result, both countries saw strong growth in their pharmaceutical sectors.
Today, the next step is clear. The global pharmacy industry must not only supply large quantities of drugs but also ensure high standards, innovation, and long-term sustainability for better healthcare worldwide.
