India Proposes Expanded Import Network for Medicines and Medical Devices to Improve Healthcare Logistics

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed expanding India’s network of authorised import gateways for medicines, medical devices and cosmetics through amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945. The initiative seeks to strengthen pharmaceutical logistics by introducing additional Inland Container Depots (ICDs), a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and an international airport into the country’s existing network of designated entry points, allowing healthcare-sector importers greater flexibility in clearing and distributing imported products.

The proposed amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, was announced on November 3, 2026, as part of the government’s efforts to facilitate international trade, improve logistics efficiency and support the timely availability of healthcare products. By expanding authorised import locations closer to pharmaceutical manufacturing centres, warehouses and distribution facilities, the Ministry aims to reduce unnecessary transportation requirements, improve cargo clearance and strengthen the efficiency of India’s healthcare supply chain.

Additional Import Gateways Proposed Across Five States

The proposed amendment identifies several important logistics and industrial locations across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka for inclusion in the authorised import network. These facilities are strategically positioned near major manufacturing and distribution centres, providing opportunities for pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers and healthcare importers to receive consignments closer to their operational facilities.

In Haryana, the Ministry has proposed adding Inland Container Depots at Sonipat, Piyala and Harsaru. These locations serve the wider northern Indian industrial and logistics network, including manufacturing and distribution facilities connected to the National Capital Region. Their inclusion would provide additional options for companies importing medicines, medical equipment and related healthcare products destined for northern India.

Uttar Pradesh’s proposed additions include ICD Dadri and Noida International Airport, with the latter identified as an authorised gateway for the import of drugs by air. The inclusion of the airport would expand the available air-cargo infrastructure for pharmaceutical imports and strengthen connectivity with the industrial and logistics facilities developing across the Noida and Greater Noida region.

In Gujarat, the government has proposed including ICD Gandhidham/Mundra, providing another authorised location within one of India’s major international trade and logistics regions. Gujarat has an established pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing ecosystem, and the proposed gateway would support import-related operations associated with the state’s industrial supply chains.

Telangana’s proposed additions comprise ICD Sanath Nagar and Thimmapur in the Hyderabad region, while Karnataka would gain ICD Whitefield in Bengaluru and the Bommasandra Special Economic Zone. These locations are associated with important industrial clusters involved in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare technology and advanced manufacturing, making their inclusion relevant to the movement of imported healthcare products.

Rule 43A Governs Authorised Entry Points for Pharmaceutical Imports

Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, specifies the designated locations through which drugs can be imported into India. The regulatory framework identifies authorised seaports, airports, railway stations, road crossings and other entry points where imported pharmaceutical products can enter the country’s regulated supply chain.

The system provides a structured mechanism for managing drug imports through designated facilities while supporting the regulatory oversight associated with pharmaceutical products. Importers are required to comply with the applicable provisions of India’s drug regulatory framework, including requirements governing product quality, import permissions and relevant documentation.

The proposed amendment expands the geographical distribution of these authorised facilities by introducing additional Inland Container Depots and other logistics locations. Inland Container Depots function as inland cargo-handling and customs-clearance facilities, allowing containerised international shipments to be processed away from conventional seaports. Their use can improve cargo distribution by reducing the need for every consignment to undergo all logistics operations near the initial maritime entry point.

The Ministry’s proposal builds upon an existing network that includes the Inland Container Depots at Dhannad and Tihi in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, along with airports already designated for pharmaceutical imports. The planned additions are intended to strengthen this infrastructure by providing healthcare-sector businesses with more geographically convenient clearance options.

Expanded Network to Improve Pharmaceutical Logistics Efficiency

One of the principal objectives of the proposal is to improve the movement of imported medicines, medical devices and cosmetics between international entry points and domestic manufacturing or distribution facilities. Pharmaceutical import operations often involve several stages of transportation, documentation, handling and regulatory clearance before products reach their intended destinations.

When authorised clearance facilities are located far from manufacturing centres or warehouses, importers may face additional inland transportation requirements and more complex logistics arrangements. The inclusion of appropriately located Inland Container Depots offers an opportunity to simplify these movements by allowing consignments to be cleared closer to the facilities where they are required.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the proposed expansion is expected to reduce inland transportation distances, optimise logistics expenditure and minimise delays associated with the movement of imported healthcare products. The measure is also intended to improve operational convenience for importers by increasing the number of locations available for regulated pharmaceutical cargo.

The development is relevant to India’s broader logistics modernisation efforts, which seek to improve multimodal connectivity and strengthen the integration of ports, airports, industrial centres and distribution networks. Efficient logistics arrangements are especially important for healthcare products because reliable movement through regulated supply chains supports timely distribution to hospitals, pharmacies, manufacturers and other healthcare establishments.

Hyderabad and Bengaluru to Gain Additional Healthcare Import Infrastructure

The proposed inclusion of Sanath Nagar and Thimmapur in Hyderabad is particularly relevant to Telangana’s pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem. Hyderabad is an important centre for pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, vaccine development and healthcare research, with numerous companies operating production, research and distribution facilities in and around the city.

Additional authorised import gateways in the region would provide more options for businesses handling imported pharmaceutical products and materials. The availability of clearance facilities within established industrial areas can support coordination between international logistics providers, domestic transport networks and manufacturing operations.

Karnataka’s proposed additions, ICD Whitefield and Bommasandra SEZ, similarly strengthen the potential import infrastructure serving Bengaluru and its surrounding industrial areas. The region supports pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology and engineering activities, creating demand for efficient movement of specialised industrial and healthcare consignments.

The inclusion of Bommasandra SEZ is especially relevant because Special Economic Zones are designed to support export-oriented industrial activity and international trade. Providing an authorised pharmaceutical import gateway within this industrial environment would create another option for businesses operating under the applicable regulatory and customs framework.

By extending the network into established manufacturing clusters, the proposed amendment supports closer integration between healthcare production facilities and India’s international trade infrastructure.

Noida International Airport Proposed as Additional Air-Cargo Gateway

The proposed inclusion of Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh represents an important element of the Ministry’s plan to expand authorised air-cargo options for pharmaceutical imports. The airport has been identified for the import of drugs by air, offering an additional location within northern India’s developing aviation and logistics network.

Air transport plays an important role in international pharmaceutical trade, particularly for high-value products, urgent consignments and shipments requiring specialised handling. The availability of additional authorised airports can improve flexibility in route planning and cargo distribution while supporting the development of regional logistics infrastructure.

The Noida and Greater Noida region has emerged as an important industrial and commercial centre, with growing investments in manufacturing, warehousing and transportation facilities. The proposed designation would connect the region’s developing air-cargo infrastructure with the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical imports.

The Ministry’s proposal also follows an earlier expansion of India’s authorised pharmaceutical import network. In July 2026, the government notified Navi Mumbai International Airport as a designated entry point under Rule 43A, bringing the number of authorised ports of entry for drug imports to 42 at that time.

The latest proposal continues this approach by identifying additional facilities that can support the geographical expansion of pharmaceutical import operations and provide industry with more options for handling international shipments.

Medical Device and Healthcare Industries to Benefit from Improved Connectivity

India’s pharmaceutical and medical-device industries depend on extensive domestic and international supply chains involving manufacturers, suppliers, logistics operators, distributors and healthcare institutions. The availability of efficient import infrastructure supports these activities by facilitating the movement of products and materials required for manufacturing, research and medical services.

Medical-device manufacturers may require imported components, specialised equipment and finished products for their operations, while pharmaceutical businesses handle a wide range of materials and formulations moving through regulated supply channels. Improved access to authorised import locations can help companies coordinate these movements more efficiently.

The proposed expansion is also relevant to distributors supplying hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacies and other healthcare establishments. Greater geographical flexibility in import clearance can support more responsive distribution arrangements by reducing the need to transport consignments through unnecessarily distant clearance facilities.

The Ministry has emphasised that the proposal is intended to strengthen the supporting infrastructure for healthcare imports while promoting ease of doing business. The measure forms part of broader efforts to develop a more efficient and responsive supply chain capable of supporting the country’s expanding healthcare requirements.

Government Invites Stakeholder Suggestions on Draft Amendment

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the proposed amendment through the draft notification process, inviting objections and suggestions from stakeholders. The consultation provides an opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical-device companies, importers, logistics operators and other interested organisations to submit their observations on the proposed additions.

Stakeholders may submit their comments to the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at Kartavya Bhawan-1, New Delhi, or through the official email address specified in the notification.

The draft amendment concerns the expansion of authorised locations under Rule 43A and will proceed through the applicable regulatory process. The proposed facilities have therefore not been presented as newly operational authorised gateways merely on the basis of the November 3 announcement.

The consultation process allows the government to consider operational and regulatory requirements associated with the proposed locations before finalising the amendment. It also provides a mechanism for incorporating feedback from businesses and institutions involved in pharmaceutical imports and healthcare logistics.

Strengthening India’s Healthcare Supply Chain and Trade Infrastructure

The proposed expansion of authorised import gateways represents another step towards strengthening the infrastructure supporting India’s pharmaceutical, medical-device and healthcare industries. By identifying additional facilities in major manufacturing and logistics regions, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is creating a framework for more convenient import clearance and improved movement of regulated healthcare products.

The inclusion of locations in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka would broaden the geographical reach of India’s pharmaceutical import network while supporting the development of industrial clusters and regional distribution systems. The proposal also complements the government’s continuing efforts to improve transport connectivity, modernise logistics infrastructure and facilitate international trade.

For India’s healthcare industry, efficient import arrangements are an important component of manufacturing competitiveness and reliable product distribution. Additional authorised gateways can provide greater flexibility for companies coordinating international shipments with domestic production, warehousing and healthcare supply requirements.

The proposed amendment to Rule 43A reflects an integrated approach to healthcare logistics development, connecting regulatory facilitation with the country’s expanding industrial and transportation infrastructure. By strengthening access to authorised import facilities across key regions, the initiative advances India’s efforts to build a more efficient, accessible and responsive healthcare supply chain while supporting the continued growth of its pharmaceutical and medical-device sectors.

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Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, November 3, 2026, 9:54 AM IST. Release ID: 2331879.

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