When compared to their branded equivalents, generic medications are same in terms of their potency, quality, effectiveness, and safety. And the savings range from 80 to 90 percent in total.’
Srinagar, July 07: On Friday, the Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) made a plea for more public knowledge on generic pharmaceuticals.
People need to be made aware of the fact that generic pharmaceuticals are on par with their branded equivalents in terms of potency, quality, effectiveness, and safety. “We need to create awareness among people about the fact that generic drugs are equal to their branded counterparts.” And, as the President of the DAK, Dr. Nisar ul Hassan, said, “They cost 80 to 90 percent less than the branded medicines because the manufacturers do not have to spend money on the development and promotion of the drug.”
According to Dr. Hassan, a false idea has been developed that generic pharmaceuticals would be less effective just because they are more affordable.
The end consequence is that consumers only purchase expensive name-brand medications, which drives up the overall cost of healthcare for the general population.
“We need to raise awareness among people that would change their perception towards generic drugs,” he said, adding that “more education for both doctors and patients would increase the prescriptions and use of generic drugs.” “We need to raise awareness among people that would change their perception towards generic drugs.”
According to the President of the DAK, research has indicated that patients who were administered generic medications had much lower out-of-pocket expenditures compared to people who had been given branded pharmaceuticals.
In addition, individuals who had been administered generic medications for chronic medical diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disorders had a higher likelihood of adhering to the prescription regimens that had been recommended for them.
“Studies have found that generic drugs significantly reduce deaths among cancer patients,” he said.
He went on to say that “it was because of generic drugs that we were able to save millions of lives of patients with AIDS.”
Dr. Nisar said that despite the rise in the usage of generic drugs over the course of time, medical professionals in J&K continue to prescribe costly treatments even if there are accessible alternatives that are just as effective but cost less money.
This goes against the instructions of the National Medical Council (NMC), which requires the prescription of generic medications, and should thus be avoided.
“The push for generic medicines will remain an idea without implementation unless a legal framework is put in place,” he added. “If that doesn’t happen, then nothing will change.”
