Question this day is not of supplying medicines to patients at low prices, the question rather is of supplying medicines at fairly labelled MRPs. In India it is also due to cost of medicines that a large population is forced by circumstances to neglect health care. Hence in many cases minor ailments become serious ailments. It is not out of place to mention here that high cost prescriptions are not only due to expensive basic chemicals/ technical grade material used but it is also more due to unfair pricing of the drugs by the manufacturers, unfair marketing policies and many of the prescription writers siding with unfair trade practices.
Kashmir Doctors Association too has recently expressed concern for prevailing practices of selling drugs under brand names with unfair MRP with the assistance of some prescription writers and have therefore demanded that prescriptions should be written by chemical name / generic name ( where ever possible).
Many may not believe that some where medicines sold & prescribed under a brand name are marked with an MRP of 500% to 600 % ( even more ) of the price that could still give reasonable (20 to 30 %) margin of profit to the trade.
The data mentioned here is only for demonstration purposes and any minor errors could be there.
Government of India had launched Jan Aushadi store programme in 2008 and professed that doctors should prescribe medicines by chemical name / generic name as far possible to crush the spine of unfair ‘pricing’ and prescription writing.
There is utmost need for the government and / or Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India ( BPPI), the implementation agency for Jan Aushadhi was established in December, 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India ) to promote the opening of Jan Aushadi Kendra under the Prime Minister Jan Aushadi Kendra Programme by dispensing the information through media regarding the assistance that can be provided to local cooperative units, local shop keepers in trade , unemployed pharmacists, individual entrepreneurs, doctors, registered medical practitioners individuals.
The prgramme has so far not fairly taken off even 9 years after it was conceived. All out efforts are being made by the ‘trade’ to push the common man into unfair controversies over the allopathic drugs being sold by Brand names and proposed to be sold by the chemical name ( generic name) even for the drugs that are not covered under patent rights of a particular manufacturer.
No doubt the present J&K Health Minister too has shown concern for prescription writing by chemical name /generic name of the basic technical grade material and so far orders limiting it to only drugs available in government stores have been issued. Action of the Minister must be appreciated but the Health Minister needs to note that in case he has desires to relieve the “SICK” of unfair prescription burden he will have to put his foot down for opening Jan Aushadi Store (Kendra) atleast in/ near every Government Hospital / Dispensary and direct atleast all the Government doctors to write prescription by Chemical name / generic name atleast for all the drugs in the National List of Essential drugs 2011. And in case it is not done, the Jan Aushadi Kendra programme will remain only on paper. The private shop owners , NGOs/ Cooperatives societies / individuals too can go for keeping Jan Aushadi programme medicines or once prescription writing by chemical name comes becomes a practice all companies would be put on a fair competitive base.
Lakhs of families are being fleeced by unfair pricing and ‘sponsored’ prescription writing.
The civil society too will have to impress upon the government for taking remedial measures and also to defeat those elements who have been all these years defeating the Public welfare schemes simply for drawing undue economic benefits. Even public men can visit and request the doctors to either write by chemical name or prescribe medicines of same salt marked with lower MRP ( even amongst the brands the price difference is huge ( one brand may be Rs 12.25 for 14 tablets and other is Rs.34 for 10 tablets where as under Jan Aushadi Programme the price could be around Rs 4 per 10 tablets ).
(Daya Sagar is a Sr Journalist and a social activist can be reached at dayasagr45@yahoo.com)
For a first hand idea prices of some drugs that can be supplied under Jan Aushadi Store programme 2008 ( now renamed as Prime Minister Jan Aushadi Kendra programme) and the price of same technical grade material sold under a typical ‘brand’ name are being given here in in a tabular form.. How serious is the issue could be well seen from the price difference.
Basic Salt Make/ Rate INR Make/ Rate INR
Amlodipine 5mg for BP Jan Aushadi 10 Tab/ Rs.3.24 Amlopres -5 15 tab Rs.36.7
AMLODIPINE 5MG + ATENOLOL 50MG FOR BP Jan Aushadi 10 Tab Rs.4.96 Amlopres AT 5mg/50mg 15Tab Rs.92.50
Losartan 50 mg for BP Jan Aushadi 10 tab Rs.9.02 LOSAR 50 MG 15Tab Rs.81.40
LOSARTAN 50MG + HYDROCHLORTHIAZIDE 12.5MG FOR BP Jan Aushadi 10Tab Rs.11.59 LOSACAR-H TAB 10 Tab 117.60
LOSARTAN 50MG + AMLODIPINE 5MG FOR BP Jan Aushad 10 Tab 07.17 LOSACAR-A ZYDUS 10 Tab 117.20
Telmisartan 40mg For BP Jan Aushadi 10Tab Rs.12.64 Eritel 40mg Eris 15Tab Rs.96.39
Telmisartan(40mg) +,Chlorthalidone (12.5mg) for BP Jan Aushadi 10Tab Rs.21.24 INDITEL CH 40MG 10 Tab Rs.115.30
Metformin 500 mg for Diabetes Jan Aushadi 10Tab Rs.06.20 Metkin 500mg 10 Tab118.75
GLIMEPIRIDE 2MG FOR DIABETES JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS. 4.02 GLIMEPRIDE 2 MG 10 TAB Rs.66.25
Voglibose O.2mg for Diabetes JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.12.73 Prevog 0.2mg 10 Tab Rs.83.50
PIOGLITAZONE 15MG FOR DIABETES JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.11.70 Path 15 mg 10 Tab Rs.49.50
GLIMEPIRIDE 2MG +METFORMIN 500MG FOR DIABETES JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.11.71
GLIMEPIRIDE 2MG +METFORMIN 500MG TABLET JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.22.95 VOGLINORM GM 2MG/500MG/0.2MG 10 tab 179.5
+ VOBLIBOSE 0.2MG FOR DIABETES
GLIMEPIRIDE 2MG + METFORMIN 500MG JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.14.85 AZULIX 2 MF 15 TAB RS.130
+ PIOGLITAZONE FOR DIABETES
ATORVASTATIN 10MG FOR CHOLESTEROL AND TRG JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.8.02 Stator 10mg 10 Tab Rs.72.55
ROSUVASTATIN 20mg for Cholesterol and for TRG JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.27.77 Zyrova 20mg 10 Tab 301.10
ROSUVASTATIN 10MG+
FENOFIBRATES 160MG for cholesterol and TRG JAN AUSHADI 10 TAB RS.24.70 Novastat TG 10 10 Tab Rs.172.10
ATORVASTATIN 10MG + FENOFIBRATES 160MG JAN AUSHADI 15 TAB RS.24.39 Atorva-TG 10 Tab 189.60
for Cholesterol and TRG
The data mentioned here is only for demonstration purposes and any minor errors could be there.