Dear Editor,
Are affordable generic medicines not reliable? Is it the reason that many doctors prefer to prescribe branded medicines? Or is it the attraction of commission that prompts many of the doctors to prescribe branded drugs? People have brand loyalty on many products. When it comes to medicine, it is the dictum of the doctors that would prevail on patients. Patients have no other go but to go by the prescription of doctors. They do not have choice over the medicine since doctors know the efficacy of the medicine they prescribe. Like branded medicines, there are branded doctors also for consultation for many people. Loyalty to branded doctors arises more from the speedy curing of the diseases by the prescriptions they give. Order by the National Medical Commission (NMC) directing doctors to prescribe only generic medicines has put on hold with immediate effect following the Indian Medical Association and the Federation of Resident Doctors Association approaching the Centre and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. NMC is a regulatory body. The directive from it is because the generic medicines cost 30 to 80 per cent cheaper than branded drugs. The health care cost drastically comes down when the cost of generic drugs is more than 50 per cent less compared to branded drugs. The doctors have asserted that the quality control of generic medicines is weak in India and because of which the patients are put at risk. An honest doctor can only explain the motive behind opposition to NMC’s orders. Medical profession is a noble profession. But the tribe of doctors going after money through unfair way has been on increase. A Public Interest Litigation petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking stringent action against doctors prescribing only branded medicines. Like in any other product, manufacturing cost of medicine should determine the sale price of medicine leaving reasonable margin of profit to the manufacturers as well as sellers. Cost of medicine includes direct and indirect expenses necessary for manufacture and promotion of products for sale. But when manufacturers and sellers are compelled to part with some amount towards commission payable to the doctors for prescribing medicine, the ‘cost’ of manufacture goes up and it will also play its role in determining the selling price. The burden of increased ‘cost’ due to commission payment to the doctors accustomed to unethical practices falls on the patients. An impression is being created that low cost medicine (generic medicine) does not guarantee speedy recoupment of health. People also largely believe in respect of goods and services that higher the price, higher the quality. If it is proved that the result of generic medicines and branded medicines is the same in respect of specific diseases, certainly the doctors should be strictly instructed by the regulatory bodies to prescribe generic medicines only. K.V. Seetharamaiah