Last Updated:March 28, 2026, 17:35 IST
Why this 25-year-old backpacker is sold on India’s healthcare.
For her cough, she was recommended a bottle of cough syrup and three full packs of throat lozenges, which for her turned out to be for a mere 252 Rupees (approximately €2.70).
It usually takes a breathtaking sunset or a Himalayan peak to make a traveller consider moving to India, but for 25-year-old Ines Faria, all it took was a local chemist shop and a bill for ₹252. While global healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, Ines’ trip to a chemist in Kerala’s Munroe Island has made people take note on how India remains the ultimate destination for “medical ” relief on a budget.
Ines Faria, a backpacker who famously traded her corporate life for a world map, recently found herself battling a stubborn cough while exploring the backwaters of Kerala. Expecting to take a significant hit to her travel budget, she walked into a small pharmacy with a modest request for relief. In her post, which shows her interaction with the woman at the chemist counter, she writes, “Me: Ok this is gonna be expensive. India: that’ll be €2 for all of this??? Cough syrup + 3 packs of throat tablets = 252 rupees. I’m moving here at this point.”
For her cough, she was recommended a bottle of cough syrup and three full packs of throat lozenges, which for her turned out to be for a mere 252 Rupees (approximately €2.70).
She was recommended a bottle of cough syrup and three full packs of throat lozenges, which for her turned out to be for a mere 252 Rupees (approximately €2.70). Faria’s reaction was one of pure, unadulterated shock. “I’m moving here at this point,” she joked in her now-viral Instagram caption.
While Faria was delighted with her purchase, the comment section quickly turned into an impromptu guide to Indian healthcare. One user wrote, “That particular syrup is the most famous medicine in India.” Another told her, “You can go to the government hospital in kerala and its absolutely free.”
Watch Video Here:
Beyond the pharmacy counter, the viral post also sparked a wave of “Grandma’s cures.” Long-time residents suggested that for a minor cough, Faria could have skipped the chemicals altogether. The advice ranged from the classic warm water and salt gargle to the potent “Kali Mirch” remedy which has a teaspoon of honey mixed with freshly crushed black pepper. “Have palm jaggry tea or coffee hehe . Or honey with pepper and dry ginger powder mixed . Good for throat too,” suggested another user.
First Published:
March 28, 2026, 17:33 IST
News viral ‘I’m Moving Here’: Viral Video Captures Foreign Backpacker’s Total Shock At Indian Medicine PricesDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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