Iwalked past a Srinagar pharmacy on a damp evening and noticed the line spilling into the street. People clutched prescriptions, bracing themselves for a wait that often lasted hours. Some left with only half of what they needed, promised to return the next day.

This scene repeats across towns, and it tells a larger story: Kashmir’s pharmaceutical sector, vital for health and economy, is failing to match its potential.

Healthcare shapes life in Kashmir. Chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes run high, while seasonal infections drive predictable spikes in demand for medicines.

The Indian pharmaceutical market could surpass $130 billion by 2030, with smaller cities fueling much of the growth. Kashmir, home to nearly 8 million people, sits on a similar opportunity.

But most l

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