Generic Medicines and Public Health

A generic drug is identical or bioequivalent to a branded drug in its dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. The only difference between a branded drug and generic drug is that the branded drugs are sold at substantial discounts from the branded price.

Novartis Issue

Novartis had filed an application for a patent for Glivec, the blood cancer drug to be sold in India. However, The Indian Supreme Court had refused to allow the world’s leading pharmaceutical company to patent a new version of a cancer drug.

This decision was considered to be major step forward in enabling poor people to access medicines in the developing world.

This ruling holds importance because there are many generic companies in India who manufacture and sell cheap copies of the drug in the developing world and has implications for HIV and other modern drugs too.

Analysis: Generic Medicines are life-savers for many but are bitter as well

With all the benefits of quality and affordability generic medicines have to offer, there have been dissenting voices regarding the generics as well.

There are concerns about that not all drugs that are available in their generic form have the active ingredient which is present in the original drug to take care of a particular ailment. Therefore, in critical life-saving situations, one cannot experiment with generic drugs.

“Generic drugs may be cost-effective, but branded drugs are always better because they come into the market after rigorous research and development. Although the efficacy of generic drugs would have been tested, yet there are chances of reactions,” said another doctor.

The other concern shown by the activists is the issue of pricing of generic drugs. It so happens that the dealer would have bought the generic medicine from the manufacturer at a cheaper price but sold it to the customer at MRP. The customer would be in the perception that he has benefitted with the lesser price, but in reality the dealer makes profits.

There is also the concern of spurious drugs been sold by the dealers. As generic drugs are manufactured by all pharmaceutical companies, spurious drugs can be dispensed by the dealers to customers. People need to be careful and check for the company’s name on the pack.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Scheme

The Jan Aushadhi Scheme (Public Medicine Scheme) is a direct market intervention scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Its aim is to make available quality generic medicines to all at affordable prices through Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS) opened in each district of the states. It was first launched in 2008 to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the economically weaker sections of the society. The first JAS was opened at Amritsar Civil Hospital in 2008.

However, the scheme faces certain constraints such as:

• Over dependence on support from State Government.
• Poor Supply Chain management.
• Non-prescription of Generic Medicines by the doctors.
• State Governments launching free supply of drugs.
• Lack of awareness among the public.

Way Forward

In order to meet the goal of Universal Health Coverage, generic medicines are need of the hour. However, a serious regulation on the quality of the drugs is needed.

The Lancet journal has stated that out-of-pocket spending comprises 58 per cent of the total out of which two-thirds is on drugs. The poor people are impoverished and adding to the agony when it comes to health is drug costs. Therefore, it is vital, that governments act on multiple fronts — making listed essential medicines available free or nearly free to all in hospitals through higher public spending, widening access to generics through Jan Aushadhi outlets, and closely monitoring professional practice to eliminate prescription of irrational, non-essential drugs that have no curative effect.