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India invited to supply medicines to Chile’s National Health System
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
May 15 , 2025
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The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has announced that it has received a formal communication from the Embassy of India in Santiago, Chile, regarding the Central Supply of the National Health System of Chile (CENABAST) seeking procurement of specific medicines from Indian manufacturers.
Pharmexcil stated, “We are glad to inform our member companies that the Embassy of India in Chile has shared a requirement from CENABAST for the procurement of some specific medicines from India. Exporters who already have product approvals in Chile and CENABAST are requested to express their willingness to supply these products.”
The Embassy of India in Santiago has assured its full support in facilitating communication and coordination between CENABAST, Pharmexcil, and other relevant trade bodies. “The Embassy would be happy to connect CENABAST with Pharmexcil and other related organizations to help address the Chilean market’s requirements for alternative or bioequivalent pharmaceutical products,” the Embassy said in its note.
However, Indian authorities have raised concerns regarding regulatory bottlenecks in the Chilean pharmaceutical registration system. It has been observed that the Chilean Public Health Institute (ISP) has not issued any vaccine registrations for the past two to three years, despite these vaccines being WHO pre-qualified.
“The Indian side respectfully requests the ISP to consider granting suo-moto approvals to WHO pre-qualified vaccines,” the Embassy stated. It added that the Indian pharmaceutical sector is facing considerable challenges in entering the Chilean market due to complex and time-consuming regulatory processes, including plant approvals, extensive documentation, and mandatory bioequivalence studies, all of which significantly increase the cost of dossier submissions.
These regulatory requirements, while aimed at ensuring quality and safety, have inadvertently become trade barriers that need bilateral attention and redressal. The Indian side has also emphasized the need for more flexibility in the inspection of clinical research organizations (CROs).
“The mandatory inspection of CROs by ISP, despite their existing approvals from other stringent regulatory authorities, is another impediment. We urge the ISP to consider accepting such approvals to avoid duplication and reduce delays,” the Embassy of India appealed.
In its official communication, the Embassy of India in Santiago reiterated India’s global standing in the pharmaceutical industry, stating, “India ranks third globally in pharmaceutical production by volume and is rightfully referred to as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’.”
In 2023, India’s pharmaceutical exports to Chile stood at USD 177.7 million, while global exports reached USD 21.3 billion, underscoring India’s significant role in global healthcare supply chains.
India's proven expertise in low-cost, high-quality drug manufacturing is seen as an opportunity for Chile and the wider Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region to strengthen their public healthcare systems with cost-effective solutions.
As part of ongoing efforts to boost bilateral health sector cooperation, the Embassy of India in Santiago has conveyed its highest consideration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile. The Embassy has further requested CENABAST to share a detailed list of specific medicines required, which will help streamline supply responses from Indian manufacturers.
Pharmexcil has urged interested exporters with existing approvals to promptly communicate their willingness to supply the required medicines. This engagement is expected to strengthen pharmaceutical trade ties between India and Chile while addressing critical healthcare needs in Chile.
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