Quality, trust, and trade

Reputational dimensions of India’s pharmaceutical exports to African markets

Bibliographic Data

ID23308668
AuthorsGunjan Kumari (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade), Oindrila Dey (0000-0001-5599-0476, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade), Debashis Chakraborty (0000-0002-2771-4439, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
Year2026
Publication date2026-07-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Asian and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9096 • E-ISSN: 1745-2538
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00219096261462808
OpenAlexW7169860437
LanguageEN
References cited25

The consumption of counterfeit or substandard medicines poses a significant health and trade concern, particularly in Africa. Fatalities in 2022–2023, allegedly linked to Indian-origin drugs, raised questions about product quality and potential reputational risks for India. This study analyses structural breaks in product-level export data and compares them with policy shifts and external shocks. Findings show that negative news causes short-term disruptions, but India’s pharmaceutical exports remain largely resilient due to stronger regulation and quality compliance. Enhancing institutional support to help firms meet international standards and secure certifications is vital to reduce reputational risks and sustain India’s credibility. JEL classification: L65, H32, L15, C32

Certification · Consumption (sociology) · Counterfeit · Counterfeit Drugs · Product (mathematics) · Quality (philosophy) · Reputation · Economic Growth and Development · Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy · Pharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting

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