Last week, a doctors’ body in Kashmir called for raising awareness among people that generic drugs are equal to their branded counterparts in terms of strength, quality, efficacy and safety. On top of it, they cost 80 to 90 percent less than the branded medicines as manufactures do not have to spend on the development and promotion of the drugs.
While the association stressed that more education for both doctors and patients would increase the prescriptions and use, it feared the push for generic drugs will remain an idea without implementation unless a legal framework is put in place.
Earlier this year, the government of India informed parliament that in order to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all citizens, especially the poor and the deprived ones, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has been launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals wherein about 9,182 dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) have been opened till February ending.
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.
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.
The government said the Department of Pharmaceuticals has taken various steps for increasing production of drugs in the country. In order to encourage the domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs, including generic medicines, two Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have been launched, viz., PLI Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs)/ Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) within an outlay of Rs. 6,940 crores and PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals with an outlay of Rs. 15,000 cr.
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.
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 government must ensure implementation which would actually go a long way in ensuring generic medicine use.
