A generic drug is legally certified to be of the same quality to replace the innovator product and can therefore be interchanged for the latter. In other words, it is a medication created to be the same as an existing approved brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics.
Once in a while, there are calls from some quarters regarding the prescription of generic drugs by the officials and doctors in Jammu and Kashmir. Drug Controller J&K while making such a call said generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across Jammu and Kashmir are not only cheaper and affordable but at par with the branded name medicines when it comes to quality and efficacy.
Generic medicines cost 80 to 90 percent less than the branded medicines, the doctors body says it would make drugs accessible to poor patients who are otherwise finding it hard to buy expensive branded medicines.
The progressive step to say the least was recommended by the erstwhile Planning Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage very long ago. While the step will surely reform the way essential medicines are distributed to patients, those in favour of the status quo on price and distribution have succeeded so far.
It is important to note that competition often leads to substantial lowering of prices for both the original brand-name product and its generic equivalents.
As per an analysis by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association carried almost seven years ago, generics accounted for 88% of the 4.3 billion prescriptions filled in the US.
The code of ethics issued by the Medical Council of India in 2002 calls for doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names only.
The relative merits of branded and generic drugs have been discussed, with varying opinions. The solution to the problem of branded versus generic drugs only lies in strengthening the existing quality control structure. The government needs to work on all fronts including strengthening the quality control makeup.
The administration must work to make it a reality and ensure that problems of the past do not come in achieving the endeavor for the larger public interest.
Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) purchase only bioequivalent drugs for their programmes.
If implemented properly, the hope is that pharmacists will fill the prescription with the cheapest generic drug in the market rather than being forced to dispense a more expensive brand as prescribed. The government must seriously consider using generic drugs.