Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has called for a law mandating doctors to prescribe cheaper generic drugs instead of costly branded medicines.
“Unless a legal framework is put in place, the push forgeneric drugs will remain an idea without implementation,” said DAK PresidentDr Nisar ul Hassan.
“It is well within the competence of Jammu and Kashmir (JK)to bring its own legislation due to the constitutional position of the state,”he said.
He said the law will make drugs affordable to poor peoplewho are not able to buy expensive brand-name drugs.
“More than 30 lakh people in JK do not have access tomedicines due to lack of purchasing power,” he informed.
Dr Nisar said while use of generic drugs has increased overtime, in JK doctors continue to dole out expensive branded drugs when equallyeffective and cheaper versions are available.
“For writing costlybranded medicines pharma companies provide doctors everything from luxury cars,family trips to household items,” he said adding that “even the chemist shopsget huge margins for selling branded medicines.”
Dr Nisar said there is a deep-rooted nexus between doctorsand pharma companies that is keeping generic drugs away from poor patients.
“The nexus is misleading people about generic drugs that ispreventing these drugs from getting popular,” he added.
“Generic drugs are copycat versions of branded drugs andcost 80 to 90 per cent less than branded medicines as manufacturers do not haveto spend on development and promotion of the drug.
Lyrica, the drug used for nerve problems, costs Rs 842 for astrip of 14 tablets whereas its generic version costs a meager Rs 70. Anotherbranded drug, Glivec used for treating blood cancer is sold at a monthly costof Rs 1.2 lakh while its generic version is sold at Rs 8000 only,” said DrNisar.