Confusion hi confusion hai…about Generics in India. There have been some articles about it, but I don’t recollect of reading a one which clearly spells the ground realities prevailing in India, one the largest manufacturer or supplier of generics to US! (US is governed by the strictest of regulations in Drugs i.e., by USFDA). My findings, experiences, views are open for the comments.
Generic is a pharmaceutical drug that has same chemical substance as the drug that was originally invented & patented Generic drug is allowed for sale after the expiry of the patent of the original drug. Thus, generic medicine is equally good as it’s Branded counterpart.
Certain common queries require certain understanding, like:
Should generic medicines be accepted same as brand-name medicines- Generic drug is a drug created as same as an already marketed brand-name drug in, dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use. Due to these similarities' generic is also called as Bio-similar which means that a generic medicine provides the same clinical benefit as its Branded version. Manufacturing of the generic drug can influence the properties and therefore can potentially affect a medicine’s safety & efficacy. But rarely.
Why do generic medicines cost less than brand-name medicines? Generic drug may not have to repeat animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness. Generic may contain different inactive ingredients compared with their branded counterparts. (Ingredients that give the product its taste, shape texture, smell, but which do not affect the body)
Moreover, these drugs are not required to do those Marketing efforts like the Branded drugs & so the cost of selling it is less.
Are generics under the controls of FDA as other drugs?
FDA monitors the drug right from manufacturing to sales. So, FDA does monitor the Generics also.
Now, my conclusions are
The generic medicines should not be branded i.e., should not bear the brand name.
The MRP must be at least as possible or as low as manufacturer decides (to compete with)
But the reality in India is:
Most of the products available in India are the copy of patented/ research / discoveries done in other countries. Thus, the drugs sold in India are Branded Generics only. Thus, the generics available are Branded Generics!
The MRP printed on the generics is same as of the branded ones or sometimes more also, but their purchase price is very low for the chemists. Thus, the chemist has a choice to (fool) or sell the drugs at whatever price he decides to consider their judgment about an awareness of the customer. This is absolutely unacceptable.
So … the customers need to be aware of these facts & insist on getting the generics at highly reduced price & even should not feel obliged about for that reduced price than the printed one.
But the best solution is the Govt. itself, must make it mandatory for manufacturers to sell the generics with the least possible MRP
