Healthcare

Biography

Mr. Utsav Sen has been Graduated from Department of Pharmaceutical Technology of Jadavpur University. He is currently a post graduate Business Administration student from Vinod Gupta School of Management, IIT Kharagpur at Kharagpur. His key areas of interest include pharmaceutical markets and pharmacoeconomics with its implications to the public health, especially of India.

 

Abstract

Generics, or more specifically, non-branded Generics refers to the class of medicines which contain the same Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), responsible for the therapeutic activity, but is usually available at a far less premium in comparison to its branded counterparts.

In a country like India, a huge segment of out-of-pocket expenditure in the family is incurred to cater to the healthcare expenditures. In this context, the cost benefit which non-branded generics can provide is of paramount importance; yet, the acceptance of the same has not been as promising as expected. This, despite the promotional campaigns of the Government of India towards adopting Generics.

The research analyzes the perception of non-branded generic medicines among doctors and pharmacists, the two key decision making stakeholders in the buying behaviour of pharmaceuticals in India. At the same time, it analyses the awareness which the general public have with regards to generic medicines. The research uncovers the primary hindrances which inhibit doctors from prescribing generic versions as well as prevent pharmacists from dispensing generic medicines. The study reveals some interesting insights into prescription and dispensation of generic medicines in addition to the expected apprehensions like fear of increased toxicity and reservations regarding efficacy of generic medicines.