What are Generic Drugs?
Generic drugs are currently the highest earners within India’s pharmaceutical industry, followed by Over-the-counter drugs and patented brand name drugs. Generic drugs are similar to existing approved brand name drugs in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics.
There is no significant difference between the two drugs in terms of the extent they would be absorbed into your body. It can be as effective a substitute as a branded medicine.
Generic drugs may also refer to any drug marketed under its chemical name without advertising, unlike branded medicine. With the Patents Act in 1970, the Indian government made it possible for Indian companies to start making their own drugs. The composition patents for foods and drugs were not covered by the Patents Act. The number of years that a process patent could last was cut from twenty to seven or five. The code of ethics issued by the Medical Council of India in 2002 recommends physicians prescribe medications by their generic names only. ‘Jan Aushadhi Campaign’ launched under The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, aimed to provide quality generic medicines at lower prices than their counterpart branded ones available in the market.
Generic drugs and brand name drugs: what’s the difference?
Generic drugs and brand-name medicine do not look the same as mentioned in the U.S. trademark law. Though the active ingredients of both Generic drugs and brand-name medicine are the same, their colour, size, shape and packaging may differ. However, the effectiveness of both drugs remains the same.
Why do Generic Drugs cost less than Brand Name Drugs?
Brand-name drugs have patent protection for some time (the period may vary). Patent protection allows a pharmaceutical manufacturing company to get their return on their investment in drug development and make a profit. Once the patent protection period is over, Generic drugs are approved for selling products with active ingredients only after attaining the standards set by the FDA. Generic Drugs are cheaper than their brand-name counterparts because they do not have to perform clinical trials on animals or humans to prove effectiveness and safety as the brand-name medicines have to do. Also, Generic drugs do not have to spend money on advertising and marketing. Hence, the prices of Generic medicine have been reduced to a great extent.
The majority of medications that save lives are produced as generic versions to bring down the cost of treatment, particularly for those who are financially disadvantaged.
How safe are Generic Drugs compared to Brand Name Drugs?
FDA has to approve Generic drugs on the grounds of safety and effectiveness before their launch in the market. They have to follow “Good Manufacturing Practices” rules strictly.
Generic drugs are considered to be bioequivalent to their branded counterparts since they contain the same active ingredient and are of the same quality, potency, and effectiveness as their branded counterparts. Indian branded generic companies have been preparing drugs in order to improve absorption and lessen adverse effects, which has led to an increase in the drug’s overall effectiveness. As a result, India is now in a position to lead the world in the production of low-cost, high-quality generic medicines that are just as effective and safe as branded medications. India exports generic medicines to over 200 nations.
If you want to be able to buy generic medicine, all you have to do is ask your primary care physician to write a prescription for generic medication and note it on the prescription. Alternatively, you can ask your pharmacist to sell you generic medication over the counter. Free consultations are also available on a variety of applications and websites, which will save you not only time but also effort and money. Both branded and generic drugs are now available for purchase online through a wide options of apps and websites (for eg. www.truemeds.in). You are able to shop on it and have your purchases delivered to your door, across India.
References:
- Generic Drug Facts. Fda.gov. 2018. [cited 2018 Apr 12].
- Generics: what’s in a name? – PubMed (nih.gov)
- [Original brands and generic preparations] – PubMed (nih.gov)
- What are Generic Drugs? (news-medical.net)
- Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers | FDA
- Generic Drug FAQs: What is a Generic Drug? – Drugs.com
- Generic Medicines | Association for Accessible Medicines (accessiblemeds.org)
- Generic Drugs – Consumer Reports Health
- Generic drugs – The Indian scenario – PMC (nih.gov)
- Generic Drugs | Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology | JAMA | JAMA Network
- An analysis of generic medicines in India (thehansindia.com)
- Choice of better medicine in India: branded vs generic medicine – MedCrave online