Benefits from generic drugs still a far cry

• Participation of chemists, hospitals and doctors must for implementation
• Doctors flout MCI code of ethics
• Only a few Jeevandhara medicals shops are set up at government hospitals

Hyderabad: The Kejriwal government in Delhi directed the doctors at Government hospitals to prescribe generic drugs instead of branded medicines. But the patients reaping the benefits of the directive (almost saving 50 per cent spent on branded medicines) is still a far cry, as without the participation of sectors, especially chemists, drugs distributors and pharma companies it is impossible to implement the GO.

The nexus among the said sectors including the doctors have blatantly forgotten the very code of ethics of Medical Council of India (MCI), that it is mandatory for doctors, immaterial whether they are from government or private hospitals, to write generic names of the drugs only.

Also a rumour, that generic drugs are substandard and there is no system to check the quality of these cost-effective medicines, has been floated by the vested interests to instill fear among the poor patients.

Recently, when AP government issued orders establishing ‘Jeevandhara’ – a chain of generic medical shops in the State, the crony private chemists and pharmacists openly said ‘how could one give a guarantee on cheap medicines’; even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules govern both MNCs and manufacturers of generic drugs. Ultimately, it is in the hands of the pharmacist whether to give a generic medicine or branded one citing no stock or substandard quality.

When The Hans India sought the opinions on the AAP government’s directive on generic medicines, there were mixed responses, mostly it was not encouraging ones for generic medicine industry with excuses best known to them only. While some city doctors welcomed the decision, many again raised doubts on quality control and biological standards of generic drugs. Some doctors even went on to say that the Chief Ministers or governments shouldn’t decide on what kind of medications should be prescribed to patients, it is the doctors who have the sole right. A higher health official at Osmania General Hospital felt, “Unless an assurance is given by the government in regard to maintaining the quality and biological standards of generic medicines, it would be a challenging task prescribing generic medicines to the patients. There is a possibility that patients can be administered with spurious and non-effective medications also”.

He further said, “If government gives an assurance and does proper supervision on quality of the non-branded medicines then definitely the hospitals can provide health as well as cost-effective medicines to the patients” he said. Dr Ramesh, a member of Telangana Doctors Association, raised doubts about the effectiveness of generic medicines. He felt, “The doctors should decide what medicine to use and what not for the patient. In fact, a physician or pharmacologist or concerned medical official should certify the quality of medicines. The most horrible thing prevailing in our State is there is no quality control study on medicines.”

Another senior health official in the government opined, “Why pressurise the doctors to prescribe generic medicines? First the State government department, AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) should ensure that there is sufficient stock of generic drugs at all government hospitals.”

Dr Suresh, president, Osmania Medical Doctors Forum, emphasised that there is a need to launch an awareness campaign on generic drugs. “Till date our government did not have a clear cut policy on generic medicines. Because of lack of awareness and wrong notion on generic drugs, a large number of patients are opting branded drugs only. Generic drugs also have the same therapeutic value as the branded ones. The problem is the non-availability of generic medicines forces the patient to opt for branded medicines.” he said.

Dr Ramesh, Niloufer Hospital, said, “Generic medicine shops should be easily reachable to the patients. Only one or two generic drugs shops are seen in a big hospital.

Many people think generic medicines are substandard. But it is wrong. People should be educated that generic drugs are equivalent to branded ones. The patients should insist the doctors to prescribe generic drugs only. It would cut medicine costs by more than half.” Ramadevi, a doctor at Gandhi Hospital, said, “According to MCI guidelines only the generic names of medicines should be written by doctors.

But, doctors flout the rules openly. And everybody is helpless because of the prevailing nexus between doctors and pharmaceutical companies and chemists in a big way. However, the states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have successfully implemented the generic drugs policy. AP is also slowly moving towards its novel health scheme ‘Jeevandhara’ and taking steps towards setting up generic drug stores across the State with collaboration of Red Cross and AP Senior Citizen’s Federation etc.