Imported Medicines in Chennai: Lawful Access to Global Treatments

Tamil Nadu in numbers: cancer cases now above one lakh a year

Tamil Nadu has the fifth-highest estimated cancer burden of India's 38 states and union territories in 2025, and Chennai's hospitals treat patients from across the state and beyond. Government estimates show the trend:

Source: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 931, answered on 24 July 2026 (ICMR–NCRP estimates, all cancer sites, both sexes).

Crossing the one-lakh mark

For the first time in this series, Tamil Nadu's estimate passes 1,00,000 new cases in 2025. That is an increase of about 10.7% since 2021, close to 277 diagnoses a day and roughly 6.4% of India's total. Most patients will be treated with medicines already available here. Where a doctor recommends a newer therapy that is approved abroad but not sold in India, named patient import is the lawful way to obtain it.

Is named patient import the right route for you?

Three questions usually settle it.

Has your doctor prescribed a specific medicine?

Every request starts with a prescription from the treating doctor. We do not recommend medicines or change what has been prescribed.

Is the medicine unavailable in India?

The route is meant for medicines that are not approved, not launched, discontinued or in short supply in India. If the medicine is already sold here, it should be bought through local channels.

Can the paperwork be completed?

The import takes place under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and the requirements of CDSCO, and depends on proper medical documentation. The medicine is for the named patient only. Our page on Indian import rules for patient-specific medicines sets out the framework, and the Named Patient Program page explains how these programmes work worldwide.

How named patient import compares with other routes

Working with us in Chennai

What stands behind our service

• 30+ years focused on named patient access
• 15,000+ patients helped to obtain life-saving therapies
• 1.5 million+ product lines reachable through our global pharmaceutical network
• Storage in an EU-GDP certified warehouse in Bulgaria
• Operations as a licensed wholesale distributor, with medicines sourced only from manufacturers and duly authorised distributors, in line with CDSCO requirements and Good Distribution Practice

We support patients, families, treating doctors and hospitals. Read more on our About Us page.

The process, step by step

Step 1: Enquiry and prescription

Send your enquiry along with the treating doctor's prescription.

What the prescription needs

• Doctor's name, contact details and registration number, on hospital or clinic letterhead
• Patient's name, date of birth and diagnosis
• Medicine, strength, dosage form, dose, treatment duration and quantity
• Date of issue, signature, and stamp or seal where applicable

See our prescription guidelines for the full checklist.

Step 2: Document review

We review the prescription and any supporting records, such as a diagnosis summary or treatment history, and tell you clearly if anything else is needed. If the prescription needs clarification, we can speak with the doctor's clinic directly.

Step 3: Price and timeline

Before anything is ordered, you receive the treatment details, the price and the expected delivery date. The price reflects the medicine and pack size, international shipping with cold-chain transport where required, and applicable import duties and taxes.

Step 4: Import, tracking and delivery

Once you confirm, the medicine is sourced through authorised channels and imported for the named patient. Delivery to Chennai usually takes 7 to 15 days. After dispatch, you receive a tracking number and regular updates until the medicine reaches you.

Heat, humidity and the monsoon: protecting medicines in Chennai

Chennai is hot and humid for much of the year, and the northeast monsoon brings heavy rain between October and December. Neither changes what temperature-sensitive medicines need. Injectable cancer medicines such as Trodelvy and Elahere must stay refrigerated at 2–8°C until use.

We ship across three ranges: ambient (15–25°C), refrigerated (2–8°C) and frozen (-20°C). Shipments follow WHO GDP-aligned practices with 24/7 temperature monitoring, and temperature records are reviewed after delivery. Our temperature-controlled shipping page explains the process.

Planning around monsoon season

Heavy rain can slow local transport. During the monsoon, share an alternate phone number and a backup delivery address where possible, and keep an eye on the tracking updates so someone is ready to receive the parcel.

On delivery

• Refrigerate the medicine straight away; do not freeze it unless the label says so.
• Keep it in its original packaging until use.
• If the parcel looks damaged or wet, contact us before using the medicine.

Understanding the condition

Most medicines listed below are used in cancer care, with a few for rare inflammatory and growth disorders, a transplant-related liver complication and serious infections. These guides explain some of the conditions:

• Advanced colorectal cancer and fruquintinib
• Belzutifan for kidney cancer
• Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease
• CAPS, NOMID and DIRA

Good to know before you start

• Supply is possible only against a valid prescription from the treating doctor, in the prescribed quantity.
• Treatment decisions rest with your doctor. We facilitate access and do not give medical advice.
• If a medicine cannot be sourced, for instance after a manufacturer withdrawal, we will tell you promptly.
• Imported medicines are for the named patient only and may not be shared or resold.