Generic drugs not only for poor

Many consumers equate generic drugs to low-grade and consider it suitable only for poor patients in government hospitals.

When the doctors prescribe generic drugs, many protest as they consider it below their status and ask for branded medicine.

Dr Surendra Mantena, chief operating officer of Medplus said, “The problem in India is about the quality of generic drugs. Manufacturing is not properly regulated and due to that, good quality drugs are not supplied to patients.”

“As India is the biggest exporter of these drugs, quality control and good practices for production of these medicines is followed strictly only in case of export products. But whether these standards are strictly followed for the Indian market are debatable,” he added.

While there are a few good companies which are supplying good quality products, it is very difficult for the consumer to identify them.

Senior general physician Dr S. Shashikant said, “The Medical Council of India has made it mandatory to write generic names of drugs but the problem is that patients are not willing to take that prescription. They clearly tell us that they are not interested in generic drugs and want only branded ones.”

Why are consumers so doubtful of generic drugs? A senior drug control officer explained, “The doubts have emerged because generic drugs have not been effective. This, along with severe resistance from doctors, has proved to be one of the major reasons for generic drugs not doing well.”

Efficacy of the drugs is a major issue. Dr R. Raghu, a senior government doctor, said, “Generic drugs have the same chemical composition as the branded medicine. Given that, the effect must be the same. But it is not. Which shows that the chemical composition or molecule is of a lower quality or is simply not the same as the branded drug.”

“This makes treatment of the patient very difficult and also shows the doctor in a bad light. Hence, doctors suffer not only in terms of their reputation but are also termed ineffective in their treatment. This dual impact has refrained most of us from prescribing generic medicines as there are too many doubts,” the senior doctor explained.