Vijayawada: Due to lack of proper sensitisation, generic medicines are not popular among the people of capital city. The state government’s initiative to promote low cost medicine is getting diverted as some hospitals and branded medical stores are creating apprehensions in the public regarding the efficacy of generic drugs.
So far Vijayawada has around 50 private generic medical stores selling branded generic drugs. One can buy generic drugs at these shops at a very reasonable price. Union and state governments are promoting the use of generic drugs by establishing ‘Jan Aushadi’ and ‘Anna Sanjevani’ stores.
Despite offering the medicines for cheap, the generic medical stores are lagging behind in sales as people are worried about the quality of drugs. Branded companies like Cipla and Ranbaxy have also entered generic market and made available their branded medicines at generic medicine prices.
Corporate hospitals in city are not encouraging the use of generic medicine. Doctors do not mention the generic name of medicines on their prescriptions.
IMA former national president Dr G. Samaram speaking with Deccan Chronicle said that he prefers generic drugs as they are much effective.
He alleged that corporate hospitals do not prescribe generic drugs as they are not profitable. He added that 90 percent of private medical practitioners are willing to switch to generic medicines. People should come forward and use generic drugs and decrease the burden on their wallet, he said.
P. Rambabu, additional director at drug control department opined that people should set aside their apprehensions and come forward to buy generic drugs.
He asked people to complain if found any discrepancies.
He opined that the Central government should frame guidelines to differentiate generic drugs with branded drugs so that it will be easy to control misuse of these drugs by the doctors.
