How to use Indian pharmacies — list of over-the-counter medications, purchase of prescription medications, and medication delivery app

When walking down the streets of India, you will often come across signs that say ‘Chemist’ or ‘Medical Store’. In India, pharmacies are better than pharmacies.ChemistIt is common to call them , and they are found everywhere in living areas, such as in residential complexes, shopping malls, markets, and in front of hospitals. They come in many forms, from large chains like Apollo Pharmacy to family-run neighborhood chemists. India is one of the world's largest producers of generic drugs, so it is not difficult to obtain drugs with most ingredients, and the perceived prices are lower than in Korea.

There are three features that are good to know when using it for the first time.

• Check Maximum Retail Price (MRP)— Like other industrial products in India, pharmaceutical packaging also has the maximum retail price printed on it. Make it a habit to check the MRP of the package before paying, as pharmacies cannot charge more than the MRP. Large chains or delivery apps often offer discounts from MRP.
• Strip unit sales— Pills are usually sold in strips of about 10 tablets, but it is also common to cut them with scissors and sell them individually as needed. While convenient, cut pieces may not have an expiration date on them, so check the date on the entire strip first.
• Counter consultation culture— There is a culture in which pharmacists immediately recommend medicine if you tell them your symptoms. Although it is convenient for mild symptoms, it is always safer to see a doctor for antibiotics, etc.

Payment can be made in both cash and UPI, and most local chemists also accept QR payments. If you have a regular pharmacy that you go to often, your life will become much easier as they will often get out of stock medicine for you or deliver it to your home.

Brand names used in Korea are rarely used in Indian pharmacies. The ingredient name is better than ‘Tylenol, please.’‘Paracetamol’If you say it, they will understand it right away. Below are representative items that Korean families living in NCR actually keep stocked. The product name is an example that is widely known locally, and may not suit your constitution or underlying disease, so be sure to consult a pharmacist before purchasing or taking it.

In particular, ORS for diarrhea and dehydration is a necessity in Indian life. When suffering from water changes, it is important to note that water and electrolyte replenishment is more important than anti-diarrheal medication.How to overcome India's water changeWe've covered it in detail in the article, so read along. Mosquito repellent is a necessity during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons when dengue is prevalent, so it is a good idea to prepare one for each family member.

According to the Indian Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, medicines that require a doctor's prescription must be placed on the packaging.'Schedule H'or'Rx'There is a sign. These include antibiotics, sleep inducers, and some painkillers, and in principle, they cannot be purchased without a prescription. On-site operations may be lax depending on the pharmacy, but self-administration of antibiotics in particular carries a high risk of resistance, so it is recommended that you always undergo medical treatment. Procedures for making hospital appointments and using the emergency roomGuide to using hospitals in IndiaIt is summarized in .

Practical tips for purchasing prescription drugs

• The brand name is written on prescriptions from Indian doctors, but at pharmacies,Different brands (generics) with the same ingredientsIt is common to suggest . If you check that the ingredient name and dosage are the same, there will be no problem in most cases.
• If you want to continue obtaining the medicine you were taking in Korea locally,Note the ingredient name (English) and dosage in advance.Leave it alone. Brand names vary from country to country, but ingredient names are common worldwide.
• For chronic disease medications, keeping a photo of your prescription on your phone is convenient for repurchasing or ordering through delivery apps.
• run by the Indian governmentJan AushadhiThe store sells quality certified generic medicines at very low prices. Please check the official site for branch locations and items handled.

Drug prices are generally lower than in Korea, but there is a large difference depending on the item and brand and may continue to fluctuate even as of 2026, so asking a pharmacist if there is a generic alternative with the same ingredients is a shortcut to saving.

India's medicine delivery infrastructure is as developed as grocery delivery. The apps below are representative, and all of them support the prescription photo upload function.

It's simple to use. Search for the medicine in the app, add it to your shopping cart, and if it is a prescription medicine, upload a photo of the prescription and delivery will begin after confirmation by the pharmacist. Delivery ranges from the same day to 2-3 days depending on the region and item, and the handling of over-the-counter medicines (OTC) and health and hygiene products is also increasing in the quick commerce app. The overall delivery app ecosystem isA summary of essential apps for living in IndiaWe covered it together.

However, India's online pharmacy (e-pharmacy) regulations are still being overhauled, so the scope of prescription drug handling or service policies may change. The most stable combination is to use offline pharmacies for urgent medications, and use delivery apps to replenish over-the-counter medications and refill chronic disease medications.

What you need to pay most attention to when using Indian pharmaciesExpiration date and storage conditionsno see. This is because in North India, where daytime temperatures exceed 40 degrees in the summer, the storage environment directly affects the efficacy of the drug.

• Check expiration date (EXP)— If you cut the strips and buy them individually, the date part may be cut off. Please check the manufacturing date (MFG) and expiration date (EXP) of the entire strip or box before purchasing.
• Be careful with refrigerated items— For medicines that require a cold chain, such as insulin, check whether they are refrigerated and packaged, and in the middle of summer, it is safer to pick them up in store rather than have them delivered.
• Use of official pharmacy— The rule is to purchase medicines from official pharmacies with signboards or verified apps, and avoid street vendors or places selling from unknown sources. In India, drug licensing and quality control are handled by the Central Drugs Standards Organization (CDSCO).
• stored at home— As humidity increases during the monsoon season, medicines are prone to deterioration. It is recommended to store it in an air-conditioned room with silica gel in an airtight container.

Additionally, in Indian pharmacies, traditional medicine products such as Ayurveda are often displayed side by side with general medicines. You can distinguish it from regular medicine by looking at the ‘Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine’ label on the packaging. This doesn't mean that traditional medicine products are bad, but it does mean that it's important to know exactly what you're taking.

I often get asked, “Do I have to get all my medicine from Korea?”, but if you actually experience it, the answer is “only half.” This is because there are more drugs than you might think that can be obtained locally more easily and cheaper.

Good things to bring from Korea

• If you have a chronic illnessA spare amount of prescription medication you are taking and a prescription in English (or a written opinion in English)— It is useful both when looking for the same ingredients locally and for verification procedures upon entering the country.
• the child is accustomed to eatingChildren's antipyretic syrup and ointment— Although the same ingredients are available locally, it can relieve the burden of giving unfamiliar medicine to a sick child.
• ‘My medicine’, such as comprehensive cold medicine and digestive medicine that has been proven to be suitable for my body.

Local procurement is better

• Paracetamol, ORS, disinfectant, paste, etc.basic medicine— It is available at any pharmacy and is inexpensive.
• Mosquito repellent (Odomos, etc.) — It is better to buy locally products that have been used in the local environment for a long time.
• Bulky and expendable items such as bands, gauze, and masks — there is no reason to carry heavy items.

Regulations for importing medicines may vary depending on the country and time of year, so if you are planning to bring a large amount of medicines, please check the official guidance from the relevant authorities before leaving the country. In summary, the most reasonable combination is 'medication verified for my body and prescription drug documents in Korea, and general-purpose over-the-counter medicines locally'.