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Govt initiatives & MCI norms along with patent expiry & affordability would propel sale of generic drugs in India: Prof Mohan
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
October 28 , 2017
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From Union government initiatives, Medical Council of India (MCI) norms
to patent expiry and affordability are all expected to spur the
prescriptions of generic drugs in the country, said Prof S Mohan,
director, PES College of Pharmacy.
In India, poor accessibility
and affordability of people compel use of generic drugs to minimize cost
of treatment. However there is a scepticism on the quality and the
safety issues when it comes to branded versus generic medicines, he
added.
Moreover since the generics are priced considerably lower,
the revenue earned in the supply chain is lower. So branded drug
companies in India could prevent government’s move to promote generics,
said Prof Mohan who was addressing at the recently concluded Assocham
meet on ‘Ensuring Quality Standards in Generic Drugs’.
He went on
to state that there was no reason to doubt on the quality of generic
drugs if it is manufactured using the right strength of the active
pharmaceutical ingredients which indicate the desired pharmacological
action.
Generic drugs are currently the highest earners within
India’s pharmaceutical industry, accounting for 70% of market share by
revenues. India is the largest provider of generic drugs and exports to
over 200 countries. India accounts for 20 per cent of global generic
drug exports in terms of volume. Globally this market is growing at a
compounded annual growth rate of 10.53% from 2016 and is expected to
sustain this momentum through 2020.
Department of Pharmaceuticals
launched the ‘Jan Aushadhi Campaign’, to provide quality generic
medicines at lower prices. In the 2016-2017 Union budget, the government
announced its intent of opening of 3000 ‘Jan Aushadhi stores'. MCI in
September 2016 notified an amendment in Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical
Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
Under the revised clause every physician needs to prescribe drugs with
generic names legibly penned down, preferably in capital letters based
on a prescription.
In October 12, 2012 Government of India issued
directions that the drugs will be sold under their generic name rather
than their brand names. This directive created confusion regarding
choice of branded generics because almost 90% drugs in India are known
by their branded generic names, he said.
In developed countries
such as the US, only patented drugs are sold under a brand,. Off-patent
drugs are sold only as pure generic, without using any brand name. It
helps in making pure generics cheaper. But in India, most of the generic
drugs are sold in its brand name and referred to as brand generics,
said Prof Mohan.
Therefore the government must take up generic
promotional schemes, general awareness programs on quality of generics
to build confidence among prescribers, pharmacists and consumers.
Availability of generics or branded-generics in the market with lower
price tag and assured quality is essential to make the medicines
affordable, said Prof Mohan.
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