A foreign traveller has gone viral on social media after sharing a video comparing the cost of common medicines in India with prices in the United States and Australia. The video, which circulated widely online in March 2026, shows the traveller visiting an Indian pharmacy and examining the prices of widely used medications.
In the clip, the traveller records several medicines sold at the pharmacy and compares their prices with those typically reported in Western countries. While reacting to the prices, he says he was surprised by how inexpensive many medicines were in India.
The video quickly gained traction on social media platforms, where viewers discussed the differences in drug pricing across countries.
The video shows the traveller, Carl Andrew Harte, checking the cost of commonly prescribed medications. Among them was amoxicillin, a widely used antibiotic for bacterial infections, which was shown priced at about ₹123 for a strip of tablets.
Another medicine highlighted was metformin, a first-line medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In the video, the medicine was priced at approximately ₹44 for a strip.
The traveller compared these prices with those generally seen in countries such as the United States and Australia, where the retail cost of medicines can be significantly higher depending on insurance coverage and pharmacy pricing.
The video generated widespread responses online. Many viewers commented on the affordability of medicines in India and shared their own experiences with drug pricing in different countries.
Some users also pointed out that medicines can be available at even lower prices through government-supported generic medicine outlets operating under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). These stores distribute generic medicines that are typically priced much lower than many branded drugs.
India is one of the world’s largest producers of generic medicines. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as branded medicines and are considered therapeutically equivalent once patents expire. Because manufacturers do not bear the original research and development costs, generic medicines can be sold at lower prices.
In addition, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) regulates the ceiling prices of several medicines listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). These regulations are intended to keep essential drugs affordable for the public.
Government initiatives promoting generic medicines, combined with India’s large pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, contribute to relatively lower retail medicine prices compared with several high-income countries.
Access to affordable medicines remains an important issue in global health policy. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies access to safe and effective medicines as a key element of universal health coverage.
Although the viral video provides a limited comparison, it has drawn attention to the broader issue of medicine affordability and how healthcare systems, regulation, and pharmaceutical markets influence drug prices in different parts of the world.
(Rh/SS/MSM)
