Generic Drugs & Its Rare Use in The Indian Market

Generic drug use is high and is rapidly increasing in all the countries of the world. In India, inspite of different amendments and schemes, it is seen that generic drugs are preferred less than the brand drugs. The purpose of the present study is to determine the reasons behind preferring brand drugs over generic drugs by physicians and customers (patients) in India and to fill-up the gaps by suggesting intervention/law/act to eliminate the differences in between generic and brand drugs. The present study is a questionnaire-based study conducted among 50 medical practitioners who are currently practicing in Government Hospital in different parts of India & 50 patients who are currently under treatment for long prolonged diseases. It had been found that, out of the 50 physicians, 48 physicians, (96%) have heard about generic drugs and 42 physicians (84%) always take into consideration the socioeconomic status of the patient while prescribing medicines. Reasons behind prescribing or not prescribing generic drugs by the physicians were, 44% physicians preferred generic drugs as they think generic drugs have same therapeutic effects like the Brand drugs. Among the others who do not prefer, stated their reasons as, generic drugs do not have same therapeutic effects like the original brand drugs, have lower quality, do not have much knowledge about generic drugs, are not safe to use like the original brand drugs. Among the patients, it had been determined that out of the 50 patients, only 24 patients (48%) had heard about generic drugs. The reasons behind using/not using generic drugs by the patients were, 14% patients preferred generic drugs over brand drugs as they think generic drugs have same characteristics like the Brand drugs. Others who do not prefer using generic drugs stated their reasons as, they do not have much knowledge about generic drugs, generic drugs would cause side effect, have less therapeutic effects than original brand drugs. Quality control & different therapeutic characteristics of the generic drug should be matched with the same original brand drug before producing and launching the generic drug in the market. Awareness campaigns should be there for generic drugs. There should be law in India such as, "if a patient possesses BPL (Below Poverty Line) card, the doctor should ask the patient and prescribe generic drugs to the patient and this should be made mandatory for all physicians in all the parts of the country and strict actions should be taken against those who would be found violating the law". Implementing such laws would force the physicians to prescribe generic drugs if the patient is poor. Thus, if generic drugs are prescribed/used equally like the brand drugs then it could be a help to lakhs of people as more people could afford to buy medicines for their treatment, leading to a healthy population.