The Union health ministry has proposed expanding the network of authorised import locations through which drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics can enter the country.
The ministry plans to include additional inland container depots (ICDs), a special economic zone (SEZ), and an international airport to facilitate the import and clearance of healthcare products, it said on Tuesday.
Accordingly, the ministry released a draft notification proposing amendments to add seven ICDs, one SEZ, and Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh to the list of approved locations for pharmaceutical (pharma) imports and clearance.
The amendments seek to change Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, which specifies the authorised ports, airports, railway stations, roadways, and other points of entry through which drugs can be imported into India.
The ministry has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the draft notification’s publication.
So far, only two ICDs — at Dhannad and Tihi (both in Indore) — have been included in the list. The revised list would also cover Sonipat, Piala, and Garhi Harsaru in Haryana; Dadri in Uttar Pradesh; Mundra in Gujarat; Sanathnagar and Thimmapur in Hyderabad; and Whitefield in Bengaluru.
Similarly, Karnataka’s Bommasandra SEZ would also be added to the list. Jewar airport would become the fourth airport authorised for pharma imports, after Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, and Navi Mumbai.
“The amendment aims to simplify the import process, improve logistics efficiency, and strengthen the supply chain for healthcare products,” officials aware of the matter told Business Standard.
They added that the expansion would allow importers to receive consignments closer to their manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution centres.
“This will help reduce intra-national transportation distances, lower logistics costs, and minimise delays in the movement of imported goods,” the ministry said.
Welcoming the move, the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said allowing Customs clearance closer to key healthcare and distribution hubs could reduce logistics costs, minimise delays, and improve supply-chain efficiency.
“For medical technologies, where timely availability can directly influence patient care, such measures are particularly important,” the multinational medical technology manufacturers’ association added.
