Medicines by Generic Name

 What Does Recommending Medicines by Generic Name Mean?

 Generic medicine

Medicines typically have brand names assigned by manufacturers, which vary across companies. However, the generic name—representing the active ingredient—remains consistent. For instance, “Cetamol” is a brand name given by a government-owned pharmaceutical company, while its generic name is Paracetamol. Unlike other products where brand value influences quality and price, medicines are uniform in content, dosage, and quality regardless of the brand. Differences may only appear in tablet size, packaging, or presentation.

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Currently, prescribing by brand names allows manufacturers to influence healthcare providers through incentives. If medicines were prescribed by their generic names, manufacturers might instead target retailers, potentially leading to monopolistic practices.

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The Public Health Act of 2075 (2018) mandates prescribing medicines by generic name and includes penalties for non-compliance. Despite this, enforcement has been weak, reflecting regulatory shortcomings.

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• Generic Name Prescription: Refers to prescribing medicines based on their active ingredient rather than brand name.

• Goal: To make quality medicines more affordable and reduce unethical practices between manufacturers and prescribers.

• Challenges: Ineffective regulation, potential monopolies by retailers, and limited compliance among healthcare providers.  

Historically, there was a time in India when medicines were produced and sold exclusively under their generic names without any branding.

Does Recommending Medicines by Generic Name Make Them Cheaper for Consumers?

Government hospitals already procure medicines through tenders based on generic names, resulting in lower prices for consumers. However, to ensure affordable medicines, strict regulation of retail practices is essential.

Why Is Implementing Generic Name Prescription Challenging?

Summary:

With better enforcement and increased awareness, generic name prescription could transform the pharmaceutical market into a more transparent and consumer-centric system.