India's Health Diplomacy: Advancing Pharmaceutical and MedTech Leadership in the Global South

Health diplomacy has become a pivotal aspect of India's engagement with the Global South, intertwining foreign policy, public health, and global collaboration to address disparities while pursuing strategic interests. India's pharmaceutical industry, which accounts for nearly 20% of the world's generics, has positioned the nation as the “pharmacy of the world,” particularly through its significant contributions to HIV/AIDS treatment and the COVID-19 Vaccine Maitri program. In parallel, India's emerging medical technology (MedTech) sector has expanded access to affordable diagnostics, ventilators, telemedicine, and digital health innovations, with significant implications for healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries. This article analyzes the dual function of India's pharmaceutical and MedTech industries in shaping health diplomacy, highlighting their transformative impact on global health governance, South–South collaboration, and capacity development. Despite challenges such as regulatory barriers, geopolitical rivalry, and reliance on active pharmaceutical ingredients, India is at the forefront of global health collaborations, thanks to its cost advantages, innovation, and digital health. It is thus of interest to analyse India's shifting health diplomacy as both a humanitarian and a strategic endeavour to spread sustainable healthcare solutions globally.