Abstract

GENERIC PRESCRIPTIONS AND DISPENSING IN INDIAPROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS - A STUDY

Revikumar K. G. and Veena R.*

Abstract

Brand name prescriptions are widely practiced by Indian doctors. One generic drug may have hundreds of branded products and all brands are prescribed by some doctors. Branded medicines are always costlier compared to generic products.. Studies have shown that compared to generic items, branded medicines are 30 to 200 per cent or more costly in India. The Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi in April 2017 announced that the Government of India intend to ensure that doctors prescribe medicines by generic name only. Apart from price, brand name prescriptions promote irrational prescriptions as in the case of Fixed Dose Combinations. There are also instances of branded products containing same or similar active ingredients are prescribed to patients. Sometimes different generic medicines are marketed under same brand names by different manufacturers. If the drugs control departments in the country are modernised, empowered and utilise the scientific advantages including information technology, the menace of spurious and low quality medicines reaching the market can be avoided. Computerised tracking system and prescription auditing will help to make the pharmacy practice more professional and ethical. Bar coding should be made mandatory for all medicines manufactured/ marketed in the country. The firms marketing not of standard quality medicines should be severely punished. All medicines irrespective of whether they are having generic or brand names shall be of standard quality and the enforcing authorities should ensure the quality of medicines.

Keywords: Generic medicines, generic prescriptions, generic dispensing, branded medicines, Indian generics.