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हिन्दी — Read in HindiDrugs, diagnostics and medical technology
Drug approval and trials, the pharmacopoeia, substandard medicines, generics, prices, devices and pharmacovigilance. It serves GS3 answers on science and technology in health.
Foundation note: Who regulates medicines in India, and the drug schedules
Showing 1 of 9 articles, those that changed from 1 to 30 September 2026.Show all
Rare diseases and orphan drugs
Copy link to Rare diseases and orphan drugsPrelims and Mains
An orphan drug is a medicine for a rare disease, long neglected by drug makers because the market for it is small.
- Government support for a patient with a rare disease is capped at ₹50 lakh, and there is a government crowdfunding platform for patients.
- The drug regulator may waive a local clinical trial for a drug already approved in certain other countries.
What changed
29 Sep 2026New
- India has reported about 1,000 rare genetic disorders, and drugs exist for only about 5 per cent of rare diseases.
Mains: incentives for manufacture, advance purchase commitments and pricing that shares benefits could make India a base for affordable orphan drugs.