What is difference between Generic Medicines and Branded Generic Medicines?
It is very pertinent to mention here that (i) the medicines that are generally referred as ‘generic medicines’ are those medicines that are not under patent rights of some individual or a company as regards technical grade material as used , these medicines are sold by technical / chemical name only & not by a ‘brand name’ like are also sold in India by Jan Aushadi Kendras ( JAK-stores ) of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP) as operated by Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India ( PMDBI) where asmost of the manufacturers in India market same medicines under their ‘brand ‘ name ( often referred as branded generic ). (ii) It was also conceived as far back as in 2008 that the prescription writers will be advised to write the prescription of such category ( atleast the patent free medicines ) by their chemical name / generic name only and there has been very very less achievement in that direction which has been one of the main reasons for dwarf status of JAK stores (iii) Distribution of Jan Aushadhi (JA) medicines is done only after 100% pre-testing of all medicine batches: Samples are drawn from 100% of batches supplied at PMDBI’s warehouses for anonymised testing, and medicines are dispatched for supply to JAKs only after the quality test is passed (iv) as per official sources the medicines sold under the PMBJP are 50% to 80% lower in cost compared to the MRP of the same medicines as are sold by Private companies under some Brand name not because the government bears some costs / subsidizes some cost but it is because the MRP tag there still there remains as a genuine / reasonable price tag with sufficient earnings for the manufacturer & sellers which could be well inferred from (a) the Statement of Profit and Loss for 2022-23 of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India that reveals that the net profit before tax was Rs. 237.27 Cr ( Rs.2,37,27,25,866/) when sales through the JAKs on MRP basis were only Rs. 1236 Cr ; and the net profit before tax for 2023-24 was Rs. 2.14 Cr ( Rs. 2,14,49,59,952 ) when sales through the JAKs on MRP basis were just Rs.1470 cr. The net profit as worked is said to be after taking into account Cost of Goods Purchased /Change In Inventories (finished goods) , Employee Benefit Expenses , Finance Cost , Depreciation & Amortization Expense and Other Expense which clearly sets aside any doubts that some may misconceive thinking that the prices of JA products are so less in comparison to the MRP of medicines sold by private manufacturers as generic or under a brand name because may be government is subsidizing these medicines where as the fact is that most of the private manufacturers unfairly inflate their prices to draw unfair direct/indirect profits where as the JA medicines are marked with a genuine MRP still keeping fair margin for the manufacturer and trader .(b) presently some private pharma companies are also manufacturing drugs for PMDBI ( earlier BPPI) with generic name where the MRP of the JA Kendra medicines also includes profit of the private pharma company, the earning of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMDBI ) and the distributor/ retailer network. (c) it can not be pleaded by any one that the branded generic medicines are not in many cases unfairly & unduly priced disproportionately (d) where as inspite of such like parameters of greater public interest with Prime Minister of India spending so much of his time & energy for promoting the PMBJP ( no doubt a pariyojna of high potential public welfare with very less direct financial load on the State Exchequer) still even in 17 years the JA Kendras have not been able to take even 0.5 % of the potential domestic market ( min Rs. 5 Lakh Cr looking at the MRP tags of branded generic medicines )that exists for generic medicines ( patent free ). How far PIB release of 23 OCT 2024 saying that significant transformation had occurred in India’s healthcare landscape with the launch of the “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP) in November 2016 ( although it was launched in 2008 ) tests to ground situation need be hence viewed carefully .May be the press release had opined so about the programme hinting that it was given a lead role only after it was given the name “PMBJP’ around 2016 or so, yes after that surely some good results have come but not that satisfying .Question that need be asked is that inspite of so many potential positives being there why has the PMBJP mission not been able to save so large sums of the out of pocket expenses of the common man as well as the Government Health agencies even when government officially says that with every rupee that a common man spends on Branded Generic Medicine purchase one would be able to purchase 5 times more medicines of same utility by making purchases from Jan aushadhi stores/ shops.
No doubt the Jan Aushadhi / PMBJAP is surely an initiative that aims to provide high-quality generic medicines at reasonable prices, making essential healthcare more accessible to all citizens in terms of the initiative driven by the Department of Pharmaceuticals aiming to ensure that every individual has access to essential medications without undue financial burden which with the prevailing trade practices is also said to be associated with branded generic drugs and Prime Minister Bhartiye Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna stores are to offer generic alternatives to branded generic medicines that maintain the same quality and efficacy promoting healthier lives across the nation with an extensive product basket that includes 2110 medicines & 310 surgical devices/ consumables . Hence those associated in the fields with PMBJAP / PMDBI who are duty bound to also inspire healthcare professionals, particularly those in government hospitals, to prescribe generic alternatives so as to promote cost-effective treatment options do also introspect on their performance over nearly two decades and take on the job to make good the losses made so far..
Production & Distribution of Jan Aushadhi medicines is under administrative arena of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers but the Ministry of Health & Family welfare does not appear to have been that involved in the use & promotion of Jan Aushadhi otherwise the position as regards the prescription writing by chemical name would not have been that disappointing , so the health departments should also be involved with responsibility.
To be Continued..
(The writer is Sr Journalist, social activist and analyst J&K affairs)