2025-12-31

Davaindia, the retail pharmacy chain led by Zota Healthcare, has built a strong nationwide presence with over 2,000 outlets. In an exclusive conversation with Pharma Industrial India, Dr Sujit Paul, Group CEO, Zota Healthcare, discusses how Davaindia is transforming access to high-quality and affordable medicines, the challenges and opportunities shaping the generics sector, and the company’s broader vision for advancing healthcare equity.

Q. How does Davaindia ensure the delivery of high-quality generic medicines while keeping costs significantly lower than branded alternatives?

Dr Sujit Paul: At Davaindia, quality and affordability go hand in hand as two pillars of our purpose. We adhere to WHO-GMP and ISO-certified quality standards in all our production centres. Every medicine goes through numerous levels of quality checks, right from sourcing raw materials to formulating, packaging and distributing.

Our cost benefit comes from cutting out the high branding and advertising costs traditionally associated with branded drugs. We adopt direct-to-consumer dispensation through our 2000+ stores, supported by effective procurement and distribution systems. Utilising economies of scale and technology-enabled tracking, we keep our generics much cheaper than their branded counterparts without affecting effectiveness, safety or therapeutic benefits.

For the patient, that means major savings, especially for long-term conditions that need to be treated for life. We see healthcare not as a privilege but as a right, and our drive to uncompromising quality at reasonable prices is the embodiment of that principle.

Q. What are the key challenges facing generic medicine manufacturers in India, and how is Davaindia addressing them?

Dr Sujit Paul: The generic drug business has several issues to contend with:

• Awareness and trust deficit – Most patients are still ignorant of the fact that low cost does not mean low quality.

• Regulatory intricacies – Sustaining national and international standard compliance demands ongoing investment.

• Supply chain inefficiencies – Particularly in rural India, where there is poor infrastructure.

• Competition from branded drugs – Supported by intensive marketing and prescriber promotion.

At Davaindia, we pre-empt these issues. Our pharmacist-led counselling and awareness programmes educate consumers regarding the efficacy of generics. We invest in quality systems and certifications continually to gain the trust of our stakeholders. Our AI-powered supply chain fills rural–urban delivery gaps. Last but not the least, by engaging with patients directly, we eliminate the need to rely on branding wars and make generics the intelligent choice.

Q. What global opportunities do you foresee for Indian generics?

Dr Sujit Paul: Worldwide, the cost of healthcare is spiralling, and governments are actively promoting generics as a means to contain costs. The international market for generics is expected to grow beyond USD 500 billion by 2030, and Indian businesses with their cost benefit and manufacturing prowess are well-placed to corner a very large share.

The opportunities for Davaindia are in:

• emerging markets such as Africa and Asia, where cost is the prime driver.

• regulated segments where patents are maturing and generic penetration is favoured.

• wellness and preventive care segments where generics may be combined with supplements and low-cost diagnostics.

Q. As a leading generic medicine manufacturer, how do you view the impact of US tariffs on the Indian pharmaceutical industry?

Dr Sujit Paul: The US tariff imposition places a further squeeze on Indian pharma exports, especially on bulk drugs and generics that constitute a big share of India’s US trade. For manufacturers, it could result in squeezed margins and increased entry barriers.

Still, we see this as a chance to spread our markets and dilute dependence on one geography. Geo-locations such as Africa, Latin America and the Middle East are becoming more significant markets for Indian generics by the day. Concurrently, we believe in maintaining close coordination with the US regulatory and trade organisations to ensure sustained access to that strategic market. In the long term, innovation in value-added generics and biosimilars can assist Indian players to counterbalance the effect of tariffs. At Davaindia, we are already investing in these niches to future-proof our global footprint.

Q. What key trends do you anticipate shaping the future of the generic medicines sector in the coming years?

Dr Sujit Paul: A number of dominant trends will shape the industry’s future:

• Digital health integration – E-pharmacies and telemedicine will propel generic adoption.

• Value-added generics – Improved formulations with improved compliance and outcomes.

• More government support – Affordable healthcare policies will increase demand.

• AI and data analytics – Optimising production, distribution and even disease patterns prediction.

• Sustainability – Green manufacturing and packaging will become a priority.

Davaindia is working with these trends by investing in digital platforms, developing niche formulations, and enhancing sustainability efforts. We feel the future decade will revolutionise accessibility to healthcare, with generics at the centre.

Q. As Group CEO, what is your broader vision for Davaindia’s role in addressing healthcare inequalities in India and beyond?

Dr Sujit Paul: My vision is based on healthcare equity, making sure access to effective and safe medicines is not a function of geography, income, or social status. In India, where out-of pocket spending is among the highest in the world, the price of medicines directly influences treatment compliance and overall health.

Through Davaindia, we hope to democratise access to healthcare by bringing our footprint to the farthest reaches, making necessary medicines available and creating awareness of the effectiveness of generics. Globally, we wish to roll out this model in markets with similar challenges.

At Davaindia, we are also seeking partnerships in preventive medicine, wellness and diagnostics, shifting towards a more comprehensive healthcare ecosystem rather than medicines alone. Our long-term goal is to eliminate inequalities by not only making healthcare affordable, but also accessible and reliable, for every patient, everywhere.