Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, July 17: Aamir Khan’s show Satyamev Jayatey has triggered new found love for Generic Medicines in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Many states have already started thinking of opening General Drug counters to promote generic medicines.
But what about Andamans? Do we really need generic Medicines or the trend of Generic Medicines is totally missing in these remote Islands?
Ask about Generic Medicines, 90 percent of Islanders won’t be able to understand what actually Generic Medicines mean. As health care is totally free in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, people hardly bother about branded or generic medicines.
But worst sufferers are those chronic patients who have to buy costly drugs throughout year at astronomical high rate, without even knowing that the same drugs are available at very affordable rates in generic form.
Often they get mislead by a few private and government doctors, who instead of prescribing medicines’ name in generic form, prescribe the name of branded medicines, which are unbelievably costly. Why these ‘few’ doctors prescribe names of medicines as per the brand and not the generic form is known to everyone.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Director of Health Services accepted that trend of prescribing only branded medicines are common in Andaman.
“Actually if you want to prescribe Paracetemol tablets, you should write Paracetemol in slip, you should not write ‘Crocin’ paractemol or any Company’s name. For this commission is guaranteed. Agents of new companies will meet doctors, they will gift, some pens, some books, some complements. These things happen,” Dr. S K Paul the Director of Andaman’s Health Department told Andaman Sheekha.
But he also cautioned that if Doctors stop prescribing medicines as per brand name then agents of Pharmaceutical companies will approach Pharmacy shop owners directly, which would be disastrous.
“Till government of India interferes and issues directions that all medicines should be sold only with their generic name, the problem will remain same all the time. If doctors prescribes medicines with generic names then pharmacists will start selling medicines as per their own profit margin and own choice of brands,” Dr. Paul added.
The DHS added that necessary directions have already been given to all Doctors in Health Department to prescribe medicines with generic name.
“Earlier we used to bring 20 to 30 percent of generic medicines but now 50 percent of medicines we purchase are generic. But problem is that many people do not want generic medicines and prefer medicines by its brand name. They often throw generic medicines on our face and leave the counter,” Dr. Paul added.
When asked about spreading awareness about generic medicines the Director said that according to him awareness about use of generic medicines is the only key.
“We are going to start a large scale awareness programme through our department about use of generic medicines, including public, Doctors and everyone else. Media should also come forward to spread awareness about Generic medicines. If public accepts generic medicines, both government and public will be able to save a lot of money,” he added.
How i can purchase generic medicines in andaman