BRANDED DRUGS GET BOOTED OUT
The Indian Pharmaceutical Association is crying foul. They say that there will be a major shortage of generic drugs if all doctors start prescribing the same ones and the quality of generics has be first tackled before the law can be enforced on compulsory generic drugs.
The new instructions by the Medical Council of India to the all Indian Medical Association, hospitals and institutions that only generics must be prescribed or the doctors will be liable for action, has got many of them upset.
The MCI’s order has led to hospital management and IMA members sending circulars that chemical names must be learnt and prescribed on the prescription list.
A senior doctor on condition of anonymity explained, “We now need to familiarise ourselves with the chemical names as most of us remember drugs only by their brand names.
Hence there has to be a conscious effort taken to write only the name of the chemical, which is quite a task. In medical colleges also, the teaching is mostly via brand names only and there too changes have to be made.
“While IPA has stated that there is going to be a shortage of drugs, pharmacists are stating that 20 per cent of global generic drug exports are by India and if the change happens there will be sufficient stocks for India. With generic drugs being exported to over 200 countries, the therapeutic value and efficacy of the generic medicines is good, but a bad name is being given to them in the market for ulterior motives.”
National president of the Pharmacy Associat-ion, Dr Sai Kumar Katam, explained, “Ninety per cent of the medicines sold in the market are branded as generics. The demand is to have only generic drugs where the quality, strength, purity and stability must be maintained. For this, the brand names will have to go and that is the reason the industry is very upset.”
IPA has stated that 9,500 units will close down and more than 50 lakh people will lose their jobs if the law is enforced. J. Jayaseelan, secretary of the pharmacy division of IPA explained, “The government has to understand that companies are manufacturing branded generics. Only MNC’s are the suppliers of highly priced patented or branded products. Before moving ahead, the government must discuss with experts in the industry and various pharma associations about the dynamics of the market.”
Back to basics:
1. Doctors now need to familiarise themselves with the chemical names as most only remember brand names
2. Generic drugs reduce the monopoly and oligopoly power of patent holders.
3. Cost of generic drugs is less than branded ones.
4. Once the patent expires, the drug price falls substantially if there are generic producers. When more generic producers invade the market, there’s more competition, leading to fall in prices.
5. Generic drugs do not have unfavourable or negative effects on a patient.
6. Potency Their potency and safety are comparable to that of branded drugs.
7. Currently generic name on the product labels is shown in almost invisible colors, while the brand name is always displayed in bold, bright colors. The government should direct manufacturers to ensure that labels carry generic names of medicines should be in a font size much larger than the brand name.
8. Ensure quality of drugs by regular inspection of facilities, audit, testing the drugs, strict quality control and deterrent punishment of companies violating regulatory standards.
PHARMACIST CHEER OVER NEW RULE:
The new law will empower the pharmacist who will be the whole and sole in terms of giving the chemical combinations and formulations. Pharmacists state that this move will mean that a doctor gives a chemical name but can’t state which branded generic or patented drug has to be prescribed. Ramesh Gupta, president of Telangana Pharmacists’ Association explained, “If the prescription is by generic name only, then those companies which are overpricing their products will be exposed in the market as the chemical combination is of a very low cost and hence a standardised cost of drugs can be introduced at later stage.”
Presently, the overpricing of drugs is due to multiple reasons, but there are also underlying costs added to the medicines because of the alleged nexus between doctors and pharma companies. In the recent past it has also been noted that pharmacy stores linked to hospitals and clinics insist on patients’ relatives buying medicines from their outlets only, which were also found to overcharge the patients.
The new instructions by the Medical Council of India to the all Indian Medical Association, hospitals and institutions that only generics must be prescribed or the doctors will be liable for action, has got many of them upset.
The MCI’s order has led to hospital management and IMA members sending circulars that chemical names must be learnt and prescribed on the prescription list.
A senior doctor on condition of anonymity explained, “We now need to familiarise ourselves with the chemical names as most of us remember drugs only by their brand names.
Hence there has to be a conscious effort taken to write only the name of the chemical, which is quite a task. In medical colleges also, the teaching is mostly via brand names only and there too changes have to be made.
“While IPA has stated that there is going to be a shortage of drugs, pharmacists are stating that 20 per cent of global generic drug exports are by India and if the change happens there will be sufficient stocks for India. With generic drugs being exported to over 200 countries, the therapeutic value and efficacy of the generic medicines is good, but a bad name is being given to them in the market for ulterior motives.”
National president of the Pharmacy Associat-ion, Dr Sai Kumar Katam, explained, “Ninety per cent of the medicines sold in the market are branded as generics. The demand is to have only generic drugs where the quality, strength, purity and stability must be maintained. For this, the brand names will have to go and that is the reason the industry is very upset.”
IPA has stated that 9,500 units will close down and more than 50 lakh people will lose their jobs if the law is enforced. J. Jayaseelan, secretary of the pharmacy division of IPA explained, “The government has to understand that companies are manufacturing branded generics. Only MNC’s are the suppliers of highly priced patented or branded products. Before moving ahead, the government must discuss with experts in the industry and various pharma associations about the dynamics of the market.”
Back to basics:
1. Doctors now need to familiarise themselves with the chemical names as most only remember brand names
2. Generic drugs reduce the monopoly and oligopoly power of patent holders.
3. Cost of generic drugs is less than branded ones.
4. Once the patent expires, the drug price falls substantially if there are generic producers. When more generic producers invade the market, there’s more competition, leading to fall in prices.
5. Generic drugs do not have unfavourable or negative effects on a patient.
6. Potency Their potency and safety are comparable to that of branded drugs.
7. Currently generic name on the product labels is shown in almost invisible colors, while the brand name is always displayed in bold, bright colors. The government should direct manufacturers to ensure that labels carry generic names of medicines should be in a font size much larger than the brand name.
8. Ensure quality of drugs by regular inspection of facilities, audit, testing the drugs, strict quality control and deterrent punishment of companies violating regulatory standards.
PHARMACIST CHEER OVER NEW RULE:
Presently, the overpricing of drugs is due to multiple reasons, but there are also underlying costs added to the medicines because of the alleged nexus between doctors and pharma companies. In the recent past it has also been noted that pharmacy stores linked to hospitals and clinics insist on patients’ relatives buying medicines from their outlets only, which were also found to overcharge the patients.
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