Imported Medicines in Kolkata: Access to Therapies Approved Abroad

West Bengal ranks third in India for new cancer cases

Among India's 38 states and union territories, only Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are estimated to record more new cancer cases each year than West Bengal. These are the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR–NCRP) estimates:

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

Reading the numbers

The West Bengal estimate grew by about 9.6% over these five years. In 2025 that works out to roughly 333 people diagnosed every day, or close to 7.8% of the national total. For the large majority, treatment relies on medicines already available in Indian pharmacies. Imported therapies matter for a much narrower group: patients whose cancer has progressed after standard options, or whose tumour carries a marker that a newer targeted drug is designed for.

Questions to ask your oncologist first

A short conversation with the treating doctor saves time later. These questions help everyone agree on what is needed before an import begins:

• Is this medicine approved anywhere in India, or only by regulators abroad?
• Which strength, how many doses and how long a course do you expect?
• Has a biomarker or genetic test confirmed that the medicine suits this cancer?
• Is there a comparable medicine already sold in India that could be used instead?

Once the doctor confirms the prescribed medicine is the right choice and it cannot be bought here, named patient import becomes a practical route. You can read how these programmes work in other countries on our Named Patient Program page.

Two alternatives your doctor may mention

Company-run access schemes

A manufacturer may offer an early access or compassionate use scheme for a specific product, with its own entry criteria. Only the treating doctor can apply on a patient's behalf.

Research studies

Clinical trials sometimes give access to a newer medicine under close supervision. Studies recruiting in India appear on the Clinical Trials Registry – India (CTRI).

Arranging treatment for a parent from another city

Sometimes the patient is being treated in Kolkata while a son or daughter lives in another city or abroad. In that case, the whole process can be handled at a distance:

• Prescriptions and reports can be shared with us by email, so no one has to visit an office.
• The quotation and expected delivery date are sent in writing, which makes it easy for family members to decide together.
• Delivery goes to the patient's home or the address you choose in Kolkata, with a local contact named to receive it.

The medicine is always supplied in the patient's own name, whoever makes the enquiry. Our page on import regulations for patient-specific medicines explains why, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules of 1945, overseen by CDSCO.

Our process for families in Kolkata

Why patients trust us

• 30+ years of named patient leadership
• 15,000+ patients served
• 1.5 million+ product lines available through our global pharmaceutical network
• An EU-GDP certified warehouse in Bulgaria
• A licensed wholesale distributor that buys only from manufacturers and duly authorised distributors, following CDSCO requirements and Good Distribution Practice

Patients, caregivers, doctors and hospitals all contact us directly. You can learn about the people behind the service on our About Us page.

What happens after you contact us

Step 1: Send the prescription

Share the doctor's prescription with a brief summary of the diagnosis. Our prescription guidelines show what a complete prescription includes.

Details worth checking before you send it

• Doctor's full name, registration number, signature and stamp
• Medicine name, strength and quantity
• Complete patient details, so the patient can be clearly identified

Step 2: We review the documents

Our team checks the prescription and reports, and tells you quickly if anything is missing.

Step 3: You receive a written quote

The cost and the expected delivery date are confirmed before any order is placed.

How the cost is made up

• Price of the medicine for the prescribed pack size
• International freight, including cold-chain packaging when the medicine needs it
• Customs duty and taxes that apply

Step 4: Import and home delivery

When you approve the quote, we source the medicine through authorised channels, import it for the named patient and deliver it, typically within 7 to 15 days. You get a tracking number once it is dispatched.

Keeping medicines safe through Kolkata's heat and rain

Kolkata's summer months are hot and very humid, and the monsoon from about June to September brings heavy rain and waterlogged roads. Many specialist medicines need careful handling in these conditions. Trodelvy and Blincyto, for example, must be stored at 2–8°C.

Every shipment travels in the temperature band its label requires: ambient (15–25°C), refrigerated (2–8°C) or frozen (-20°C). Temperatures are monitored 24/7 and handling follows WHO GDP guidance. Our temperature-controlled shipping page covers this in more detail.

Planning around Durga Puja and long holidays

• If treatment dates fall near Durga Puja or other long holidays, send your enquiry early so documents are ready in good time.
• Make sure someone will be at home to receive the parcel, or give us an alternative address.
• Put the medicine straight into the refrigerator if its label says 2–8°C, and do not freeze it unless instructed.
• Call us before use if the outer box arrives damaged.

Read about the conditions these medicines treat

• Triple-negative breast cancer explained
• HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
• Causes of small cell lung cancer
• Cancer types, stages and treatment: the basics

Important to know

• We do not offer medical advice. Decisions about treatment always rest with your doctor.
• If a medicine cannot be obtained, for instance because it has been withdrawn by the manufacturer, we will let you know without delay.