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Experts demystify myths and misconceptions about generic medicines
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
June 15 , 2021
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Experts have demystified common myths around less cost of generic medicines among others like they are inefficacious as compared to branded medicines among other misconceptions.
The fact is that branded medicines are widely promoted or advertised, thus people tend to have faith in them. Generic medicines are cheaper because they are not advertised and thus save on a lot of cost. Consumers used to buy medicines which are advertised and they find it difficult to purchase and trust the potency of generic medicine.
According to WHO reports, nearly half of the world’s population is deprived of standard health facilities. Purchase of medicines contributes to more than 66.6% of healthcare expenditure.
Medical researchers and pharmaceutical firms invest millions and spend many years in research for development of better, more potent molecules to tackle a particular aliment. These organizations spend their resources for the invention and development of better drugs. Thus, when a medicine is finally developed and is ready for mass consumption, the developer gets patent for the medicine for a stipulated period.
Once the patent period is over, other companies can produce their own medicines containing the same molecule and sell them in the market as generic medicines. These organisations just adopt the molecule from the parent composition. Thus, they spend a lot less as compared to the organizations that undertook the research. Hence, making generic medicines is affordable when compared to branded medicines.
This simply means that generic medicines are the affordable versions of the branded medicines.
“There is a lot of confusion, miscommunication and primarily a broad knowledge gap amongst stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry. This adversely broadens the gap amongst consumers too. When medication is prescribed by brand names instead of drug names it further contributes to low confidence amongst consumers. Further the term ‘generic’ also bring doubts to the minds of the consumers. This practice hits at the very root of the aim, which is to make medical care affordable to all sections of the society,” clarifies Siddharth Gadia, co-founder, Zeno Health.
Zeno Health (Formerly Generico) is the fastest growing generic medicine focused retail chain in Mumbai.
There is a myth that generic drugs are poor copies of branded medicine, which is why they appear late on the market. But the fact is that branded medicines appear in drug stores earlier because their R&D is funded by drug manufacturers, by whom the formulations are patented. Once the patent expires, generic drugs can be produced and then released in drug stores. As previously stated, the same active ingredients are used, bearing the same production process. The potency and effectiveness of both branded and generic drugs are identical. The generic medication too must pass through strict quality control checks that are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies.
There is old myth that generic drug manufacturing units are not concerned with quality. But the fact is that Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) schedules regular inspections of various manufacturing units. There are licensed guidelines for the pharmaceutical manufacturers to manufacture branded and generic medicines. CDSCO is active even after the drug is tested and released for mass usage.
Siddharth Gadia further explains, “If a particular manufacturer defaults these guidelines, a strong enforcement action can be taken against the manufacturer and in some cases even cancel their license. In line with the FDA’s regulations about drugs, all medicines sold in drugstores should be safe, with the manufacturers abiding by the health standards surrounding production and development. The FDA ensures that generic drugs are safely produced at well-equipped facilities and have the same quality, strength, purity, and stability as branded drugs.”
“There are two primary reasons to steer away from the myths surrounding generic medicines. First is that generic medicine related policies are important for any health care system, primarily to reduce the costs on pharmaceutical products and secondly by making generic medicine available to all helps with the treatment of many individuals, especially in developing countries like ours,” Gadia concludes.
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