Sourced facts · updated 2026-10-31
India's pharmacy market in numbers
Every figure quoted on this site, with where it comes from and when it was true. Free to cite with attribution.
How many pharmacies are there in India?
12.40 lakh (1.24 million) Chemists and druggists in India
Source: All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD), press note · as of March 2026
Retail medicine shops, the counters MedMate is built for. Older figures of '9 lakh' circulate online but are unsourced.
How many government hospitals does India have?
36,626 Government hospitals in India
Source: National Health Profile, Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) · as of 31 December 2022
For scale: there are roughly 34 chemists for every government hospital.
How does the pharmacy network compare with India Post?
1,64,999 Post offices in India
Source: India Post, annual statistics · as of 31 March 2025
India has about seven and a half medicine counters for every post office.
When did India's chemists go on a nationwide strike against quick-commerce discounting?
20 May 2026 Nationwide chemists' bandh called by AIOCD
Source: AIOCD public notice and national press coverage · as of May 2026
Called against deep discounting of medicines by online and quick-commerce platforms.
Which medicines need a prescription in India?
Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 Schedule H and H1 drugs may be sold only against a registered medical practitioner's prescription
Source: Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945, Government of India · as of In force
This is why a pharmacist, not a warehouse, must check the order.
What margin does a chemist make on medicines?
about 20% Trade norm for retail chemist margin on scheduled medicines
Source: AIOCD trade margin norm · as of 2026
Expiry, dead stock and discount wars eat into this margin; see the essay on stock that dies on the shelf.
When was MedMate founded?
14 July 2026, Bengaluru Medmate India Technology Private Limited incorporated
Source: Certificate of Incorporation, Ministry of Corporate Affairs; CIN U86909KA2026PTC224040 · as of July 2026
What is the ₹200 Crore Challenge?
A Reel a day for 730 days, from 17 July 2026 The ₹200 Crore Challenge: Roni Paul's build-in-public series
Source: Instagram @the_roni_paul · as of Ongoing
Day 1 was 17 July 2026; the series ends 15 July 2028.