Lack of awareness about the availability of generic medicines at medical shops and pharmacies forces the common public to spend more on branded medicines. Because of this, people are suffering due to the increasing healthcare costs.
India is one of the largest producers of vaccines in the world and supplies 20% of the world’s supply of generic drugs. India is a growing thousand pharma companies that are manufacturing different varieties of generic medicines for various diseases and therapeutic uses and exporting low-cost, high-quality medicines to the world.
How to differentiate between generic and branded medicines in India
However, it is ironic that despite India being a global pharmacy of generic medicines, the people in this country cannot avail themselves of the same good quality low-cost generic medicines and are spending hugely on buying branded and imported medicines.
Awareness about generics in people
Due to the size of India’s pharmaceutical business, it has taken an extraordinary amount of time for to transition to low-cost generic drugs on a big scale. Also, doctors and pharmaceutical companies have personal interests in leveraging high price for more margins. As a result, people are only sometimes aware of the availability of less-priced alternatives to popular brands.
A study suggested that the purchase of drugs constitutes 70% of the total out-of-pocket expenditure. Commercial health insurance holders may get treatment coverage but not regular medicines.
Lack of availability and accessibility add to unawareness
There are three primary categories of pharmaceutical products on the market —authorized generics, branded generics, and generic. Usually, pharmaceutical businesses that produce branded drugs also produce authorized generic medications to treat the same ailment. It’s worth noting that the cost of these three drugs, each of which is intended to treat the same illness, varies widely.
There is a wide range in price for pharmaceuticals, from the higher prices of name-brand drugs to the middle ground of branded generics to the lower prices of generic alternatives. However, their quality and effectiveness in curing the illness are the same. But the general public needs to be made aware of this reality, and there are no effective means of getting the word out.
The general public needs further explanation on this matter. There’s a common misconception that generic drugs sold at reduced cost also suffer from inferior quality. Because of this worry, the general population spends more money than necessary on name-brand medications, which drives up healthcare prices.
Branded generics and branded pharmaceuticals are more expensive, yet low-cost generics contain the same medical formula. Low levels of education lead to overspending on expensive name-brand medications and unnecessary medical bills. Both the central and state governments should maintain their generic awareness campaigns.
Lack of information about generics
Firstly, there are more resources needed regarding generic drugs in India. More individuals need generic medicine awareness along with the benefits they provide so that they may learn more about them.
By law, generic versions of a medicine must be just as safe and effective as the original brand name version. They are created using the same chemical composition. Brand-name products are promoted and discussed more often than their generic medicines on television media, newspapers, and outdoor hoardings. And this is what makes them far more expensive.
To avoid paying unnecessary medicine costs, consumers need to be aware of the existence of generic alternatives. In addition, additional study and teaching on generics are required in India. Just like how branded medicines are promoted, even generic medicines need visibility among people. Also, people can be more aware of generic drugs if they are widely distributed. People lose the chance to save money on prescription drugs because they need more information that promotes buying generic.
No prescription from the doctors for generics
Even though generics are widely available, doctors often do not prescribe generic medicines in India. This has been due to many reasons.
Firstly, doctors need to hold more information about generic medicines and often must be made aware of guidelines on their use. Also, doctors are incentivized by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe branded medications instead. This promotes more usage of branded medicines over generic ones. Doctors in India perceive that generic medicines are of lower quality and, therefore, not suitable for their patients.
Lack of education related to generics
In India, a lack of education on safe and effective generic medicines is a major obstacle to promoting the use of generic amongst patients. Low awareness about generic medicines, their benefits and safety, and the implications of not using them have been identified as the primary causes of non-adoption. In addition, there is often a need for more trust in generic medicines and an unwillingness to take them due to a perception that they are of inferior quality and less effective than branded medicines.
Wrapping up
Poor understanding of the regulatory system and its implications on the quality and safety of generic medicines, especially among the general public, also leads to a lack of confidence in them.
But, at Medkart, we run plenty of promotional campaigns to increase the reach of generic medicines in India.
Our 100+ stores across India have pharmacists who can offer substitutes for branded medicines. Also, you can buy generic medicines online on medkart.in, Android app, and iOS app. Switch to generic medicines and make big savings without affecting your health.
