China was once quite backwards too up until the 80's when their economy finally started taking off. They've been doing surprisingly well in aerospace for example. They have hypersonic and supersonic cruise missiles, an anti ballistic missile defence system, satellite launchpads, a space program which will send astronauts into space by 2023, etc. Also, Indian pharmaceutical companies have been making many generic cancer medications for 90% cheaper than western Big Pharma which has arguably saved many lives or at the very least prevented many bankruptcies. India may be a shithole, but I think it is a shithole with potential.
There's lots of Shiva Ayyadurai type Indians out there with the capacity to invent and innovate. I think as the decades go by you will see developments out of India that will improve your perception of the country.
They (Chinese) damn well should be doing great, the US gave them all the fucking technology to do so, decades ago. It didn't stop until recently.
As for making drugs cheaper, well the clue is in your answer. They make GENERIC drugs cheaper. Can they produce a new product including RnD cheaper, can they invent cures that either get bought out or never make it past the legalisation process? The reason drugs are expensive is because of a few reasons, including legal red tape, and that it all gets claimed on insurance, so only the insurance companies feel the effect, and they just pass it on to the consumer in small unnoticeable increases in their premium.
Nothing you've thus said has changed my mind regarding India.
Can they produce a new product including RnD cheaper, can they invent cures that either get bought out or never make it past the legalisation process?
I'm not sure about in terms of developing new drugs but they have been developing new medical procedures and techniques at some research intensive universities like IIT Kharagpur (Indian Institute of Technology). Here is one example from not too long ago:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_inhibition_of_sperm_under_guidance
For what it's worth India has been the leader in researching the medicinal and anti cancer effects of Ayurvedic herbs like ashwagandha, shilajit, curcumin and brahmi and have also been a leader in exporting them to western countries. Doctors in Russia, Germany and other European countries prescribe some of these herbs to their patients and have reported good results. It's not like America & Canada where MDs get their practice licences revoked for recommending herbal medicines.
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