12,500 crores worth of medicine consumed by Malayalis in 2022

KOCHI: Malayalis who pay too much attention to health care consumed 12,500 crores worth of medicine in 2022! The amount was 11,000 crore in the previous year.

The All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) stated this by citing IQVIA Market Reflection Report and Pharma vax Report.

Top-selling products are painkillers and cardiovascular drugs. Vitamins and gastro and antidiabetic medicines also sell in high numbers.

In 2022, the total turnover of the Indian pharmaceutical market was 2,20,395 lakh crores. Though Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Bengal were ahead of Kerala in terms of drug use, they are far ahead in population as well.

Due to people being health conscious during the covid period, the use of medicine had come down to 7,500 crores. Sales of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs fell sharply during that time.

99% from outside

There are more than fifteen private drug manufacturing plants in Kerala, but 99 percent of the drugs come from other states. It has been two years since Kerala's first private pharmaceutical manufacturing unit - Kaino Pharm Limited - was launched at the consortium level in Ernakulam Puthenkurish under the leadership of AKCDA with an initial investment of Rs 5 crore. More than 30 medicines like paracetamol, antiseptic lotion, vitamins, antibiotic, and heart disease medicines are brought to the market under the Kaino brand.

This is the first time that drug sales have increased so much since Covid.

AN Mohan,

State President,

All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association

Increased life expectancy is the main reason for increasing drug sales. Other reasons are that Keralites are more health conscious and have more hospitals.

Dr. B Iqbal,

Chairman of the Kovid expert committee

The number of people suffering from diseases is increasing in Kerala. This is also the reason for the increase in drug use

Dr. Srinivasa Kammat

Secretary IMA, Kochi