We cannot  keep   90% of  population  at the  mercy of generics  whose quality control  is not ascertained  as per the  norms  of the International Drug Associations.  How is it wise to prescribe these questionable generics. To what extent do our state health ministry think this will improve the healthcare of the  state of Jammu and Kashmir! This policy  will  prove counterproductive as  it  will provide  an ample space   for   supply contractors with the mind set of making a killing out of the sale of generic drugs, and  will discourage  drug promoting  Professionals. It will finally  lead to the days of ‘License Raj’ and take the emphasis away from competitive market  to the corridors of officials.

Apprehensions:
As per the drug policy  the  government  is going  to  issue  the orders  to the  medicos  that they should  prescribe only pharmaceutical  ingredients in IPDs and OPDs of  government  run  healthcare institutions, which fortunately or unfortunately  contribute 80-90% of State’s Pharma Market; roughly 1600-1700 Crores per annum. This means  by this policy  government  is  encouraging  non-technical  chemists and officials to control Pharma market  of the state. This will  not by any  means  improve  the overall  healthcare  but  in reality, if  not seen through the coloured  glasses  of  politicians and officials will  degrade  it.
Democracy at  any cost does not  believe  in  centralization of authority  but in real sense  the  classical feature  is decentralization of authority;  by this  policy  state  health  ministry  is trying  to centralize the authority, an amended  form of autocracy. It will be contradicting the  rule  of demand  and  supply, the  very  basic  norm of present modern economy.
Between One to two lac persons, directly or indirectly, depend upon J&K’s Pharmaceutical Industry. And the drug policy  will start  depleting  this figure  , thus leading to a socio-economic  crisis.
The  drug delivery system  of the West  is  far   advanced than East. We will behave not be doing anything good by copying  the drug policy  of Europe, Northern  American Countries  and  emulate  without looking into the socio-economic impact of it.
The present state  government  drug policy  will simply  come at the  cost of working class. 

Suggestions:
Healthcare in itself is not an indivisibility. It involves two things; drug delivery  system and pharmaceuticals. Drug delivery system includes  all  infrastructure  like  healthcare institutions, hospitals, medical as well as  paramedical  staff.  The pharmaceuticals mean  all  the drugs used for  cure  and relief  from disease .
 The  drug delivery system is five times  mightier  than total  pharmaceutical industry  both  nationally  and internationally. So  faces an illusion   while  thinking of   improving overall   healthcare of Jammu and Kashmir  without addressing and improving  drug delivery system. So, the  tall  claim of the  government that ‘their priority is  healthcare’, while ignoring the  drug  delivery system is a paradox. 
Pharmaceutical Market comprises Manufacturing and Marketing. In  India, where the  manufacturing  units are located (Preferably at Special Economic Zones)  the licenses are being  issued  by  checking the GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) by  License Issuing Authorities,  which  comes to their domain. When it comes to Marketing  the  prices  of the  drugs  are being controlled  by the DCGO (Drug Control General’s Office). India being the federal system need to follow the licenses  issued  by the aforesaid  authorities. The state  government  has  a little role to play, of course,  the  state  government  can  enter  into the  system  by allowing  only  those  Pharmaceutical Companies  to  market their  products  in state territory,  who will follow  the preset   marketing norms , which are yet to be  set   by the  state  government. So  generic  statement  of  state will become  specific  when they will check and cross-check  the  marketing aspect  of  Pharmaceutical Companies  in  the state  of Jammu and Kashmir . Otherwise the  drug policy  will be  just   beating about the bush  and  can prove  counterproductive  to the  state at the  expense  of  poor  patients  in terms  of access  to  quality  drugs .
III) After the approval  by the  state authorities  to  market  their   products  in state of Jammu and Kashmir, no Pharmaceutical Company   should be allowed to  dump their  products  within the  territory of  the state, i.e.,  the  stock of  particular Pharmaceutical Company should not exceed 2.5 times  of their  sales  in a particular  sales  period . 

Conclusion
The Drug  Policy   framed   by the  health ministry  of  Jammu and Kashmir government is quite perplexing as it didn’t consult anyone of those affiliated with Pharma Business. It has been hurriedly passed ignoring more than taking into account.   
(Author is President South Kashmir Medical Representatives Association,  and can be  mailed at samiullahmalik33@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST