27th Jun 2017 09:06:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

Through the Jan Aushadhi initiative, the Centre procures medicines in bulk from public as well as private drug manufacturing firms and rebrands them under 'Jan Aushadhi'. These will be sold in the retail market at a competitive price, allowing consumers to buy a cheaper yet quality product from the government. The government also plans to make it mandatory for public hospitals to prescribe it wherever possible.

The Indian pharmaceutical retail market, pegged at Rs 87,000 crore annually, is dominated by branded generic products. In other words, while there are very few patented medicines sold in India, most of the medicines available in the market are branded products sold by private firms.

Pharmaceutical firms spend huge amounts in creating these brands. However, since prescription-based medicines cannot be promoted through advertisements, companies often push these brands through doctors and chemists. Consumers, who are often unable to make an informed choice for purchasing medicines, have to rely on the doctor's prescription or on chemists.

This is what the central government through ‘Jan Aushadhi’ is attempting to rectify. By providing an umbrella brand for generic drugs it aims at enabling consumers to make that choice. But there are numerous glitches which need to be ironed out before it really serves the purpose for which it was created.

In this regards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently indicated that his government may bring in a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines, which are cheaper than equivalent branded drugs, to patients is a significant decision. Pharmaceutical companies promote their medicines through doctors for which they are offered perks and benefits. Contrary to this, doctors do not get anything to promote and prescribe generic drugs. Furthermore, there is a need to aware people that generic medicines are not inferior in quality as is commonly perceived.

Arunachal with maximum of its people living in villages will be a huge beneficiary of this initiative. The government however needs to address concerns of maintaining and monitoring quality of all medicine products sold under this brand since they will be procured from different firms. Focus on procurement norms and sampling must be rigorous to ensure quality control.


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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