Prices of branded drugs available in India should be brought down closer to the prices of their generic alternatives, requests a letter from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) addressed to the union health ministry.
Prices of branded drugs available in India should be brought down closer to the prices of their generic alternatives, requests a letter from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) addressed to the union health ministry.
The letter, sent in the second week of April, also requests the ministry to assess the quality of crucial generic drugs and certify them so that doctors can prescribe them to patients without any qualms.
Dr Jayesh Lele, president-elect, IMA (Maharashtra) said, "The drug price variation (between branded and generic drugs) was one of the topics discussed in our central working committee meeting that was held a few days ago. We felt the need to have certified generic drugs so that people get the benefit."
A generic drug is identical to a brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price.
"For diseases like diabetes and hypertension, where the patients have to take medicines for the long term, generic drugs will help them save a lot. Also, if the union health ministry certifies generic drugs, people won't run behind brands, and we doctors can freely prescribe generic drugs," said Dr Lele.
In 2013, in a landmark decision, Supreme Court of India denied Novartis AG's request for patent protection for its Gleevec cancer treatment, allowing the nation's generic-drug makers to continue to sell copies of the drug at a lower price. The Medical Council of Indias (MCI) too had issued directives to its doctors to prescribe generic medicines as far as possible.
Following this, the Centre had directed all the states to ask their doctors in public facilities to prescribe only generic medicines. To promote generic drugs, more than 150 Jan Aushadhi Stores have already been opened across India
"At IMA, we are dedicated to serve our patients and concerned about the huge price differences (between branded and generic) drugs, especially antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. We have requested the central government to look into the matter," said Dr KK Agarwal, national secretary general, IMA.
Dr Agarwal said that until the government comes out with a concrete move on drug price regulation, IMA is hiring a pharmacist who will help evaluate generic medicines. "The pharmacist will help us find cheaper and trustworthy options in drugs. The list will then be approved by our consultants, and patients can shift to the cheaper options accordingly," said Dr Agarwal.
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