Generic and Branded Medicines: Science Students Perspective

 

Deeksha, Ligade V S*

Department of Pharmacy Management, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

 

ABSTRACT:

The debate regarding use of generic medicines over branded medicines is in discussion for many years. There are some similarities and differences in generic and branded medicines available in the market. The present Study focused on to understand the perception of science students toward branded and generic medicines. Total sample size used for study was 100 respondents. The results indicated that majority of respondents are aware of branded and generic medicines available in the pharmacy stores. For respondents academic syllabus is the major source of information about generic and branded medicines. More than 50% of the respondents are not aware of Jan Ausudhi stores operating in India, which are involved in selling only generic medicines.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The debate on merits of branded drugs versus generic drugs is going among physicians, pharma professionals, media and healthcare activists over last few years^[1]. Generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an existing approved brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics^[2]. Branded medicines currently, almost all medicines in India are sold under a brand (trade) name and medicines are called as branded medicines or branded-generic^[3].

 

Generic drugs account for 75 per cent of the domestic pharmaceutical market by value. The domestic generic drug market is expected to cross $27.9 billion from the current level of $13.1 billion registering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 16.3 per cent. The major export markets for the country’s pharmaceutical products are America, Europe, China, Japan, Africa, and others. The U.S. is single largest export destination. It accounts for nearly28 per cent of Indian pharmaceutical exports, followed by the European Union (18 per cent) and Africa (17 per cent)^[4].

 

In some countries, such as Brazil and France, more than 20% of all drug sales are generic^[5]. Government of India started Jan Ausudhi scheme with objective that every citizen of India should get quality generic medicines at affordable prices. Mission of the scheme is create awareness among public regarding generic medicines. Also create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with high quality^[6]. The present study attempted to evaluate perception of science students toward generic and branded medicines.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

This study aims to evaluate the perception of science students toward generic and branded medicines.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Study design and participants:

This investigation used a print based questionnaire to evaluate the perspective of science students toward generic and branded medications. Data was collected through primary research and secondary research. Secondary data were obtained from published literature in medical and management online and print journals, newspaper, magazines, opinion articles and news items from the internet. Students were eligible to participate if they were enrolled in their first, second, or third, fourth year of study in the Science/Professional Colleges (Pharmacy, MBBS, Dental and BSc). One hundred students were included in the study. Sampling technique used for the study was non probability convenience sampling, which relies on the personal judgment of the researcher. Data analysis was done and put in as tabulated form to make it understandable and presented with help of charts, diagrams and graphs etc.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Awareness of branded and generic medicines available in the pharmacy stores.

Table no. 1: Awareness of branded and generic medicines

Response	% of respondents
Yes	94
No	6

 

From the above data it was noted that 94% of respondents are aware of branded and generic medicines available in the pharmacy stores.

 

India is the largest provider of generic drugs/medicines globally.

Table no. 2: India-largest provider of generic drugs/medicines globally

Response	% of respondent
Strongly agree	15
Agree	35
Neutral	38
Strongly disagree	4
Disagree	8

 

According to 35% of respondents India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. 38% of respondents were neutral. As per recent report, India is largest exporter of generic medicines to other countries.

 

Generic medicines manufactured by Indian pharma companies are of good quality compared to that of multinational pharma companies.

Table no. 3: Comparison of quality

Response	% of respondent
Strongly agree	7
Agree	39
Neutral	46
Strongly disagree	2
Disagree	6

 

It was noted that 39% of respondents believe that generic medicines manufactured by Indian pharma companies are of good quality compared to that of multinational pharma companies. 46% of respondents were not sure about same.

 

Source of your current information/knowledge about generic medicines.

Table no. 4: Source of information

Response	% of respondents
Academic syllabus	52
Internet	25
Pharmacist	12
Friends/Relatives	8
Electronic media	3
Any other

Academic syllabus is source of information/knowledge about generic medicines according to 52% of respondents. 25% of respondents said they gained knowledge about generic medicinesthrough internet. 12% of respondents have gained the knowledge about genericmedicines through pharmacist.

 

Usage of generic over the counter (OTC) medicines for personal health problems.

Table no. 5: (OTC) medicines for personal health problems

Response	% of respondents
Yes	63
No	37

 

63% of respondents have purchased OTC medicines for personal use.

 

Awareness of notification of Medical council of India, which insists physicians to prescribe medicines with generic name only.

Table no. 6: Awareness of notification of Medical council of India

Response	% of respondents
Yes	53
No	47

 

From above data it was noted that 53% respondents are aware of notification of Medical council of India, which insists physicians to prescribe medicines with generic name only. 47% of respondents are not aware about the same.

 

Comparison of price manually of any generic and branded medicine in pharmacy stores.

Table no. 7: Comparison of price manually

Response	% of respondents
Yes	31
No	69

 

69% of respondents said that they never compared manually price of any generic and branded medicine in pharmacy stores. 31% of respondents have compared the price of generic and branded medicine in pharmacy stores.

 

Price of the generic medicine is

Table no. 8: Perception about price

Response	% of respondents
Less than the branded medicine__	58
Same as the branded medicine __	8
More than the branded medicine	4
Don’t know	30

 

58% of respondents think that the price of the generic medicine is less than the price of the branded medicine. 30% of respondents are not aware of the price difference. 8% and 4% of respondents think that price of the generic medicine is more than the branded medicine and same as the branded medicine respectively.

 

Generic medicines are therapeutically equivalent to the innovator brand product.

Table no. 9: Comparison of therapeutic equivalence

Response	% of respondent
Strongly agree	9
Agree	47
Neutral	39
Strongly disagree	-
Disagree	5

 

From the above data it was noted that 47% of respondents agree that generic medicines are therapeutically equivalent to the innovator brand product. 39% of respondents are not sure about the therapeutic equivalence.

 

Generic medicines follow the same FDA regulatory guidelines as branded medicines.

Table no. 10: FDA regulatory guidelines

Response	% of respondent
Strongly agree	12
Agree	59
Neutral	21
Strongly disagree	3
Disagree	5

 

Majority of the respondents are of opinion that generic medicines follow the same FDA regulatory guidelines as branded medicines.

 

Awareness of Jan Ausudhi Stores initiated by central government, which sale only generic medicines.

Table no. 11: Awareness of Jan Ausudhi Stores

Response	% of respondents
Yes	35
No	65

 

65% of respondents are not aware of Jan Ausudhi stores operating in India. Jan Ausudhi stores sale only generic medicines.

 

CONCLUSION:

From the study it was noted that majority of respondents are aware of branded and generic medicines available in the pharmacy stores. Respondents know recent information about generic market. Academic syllabus is source of information/knowledge about generic medicines. More than fifty percent of respondents think that the price of the generic medicine is less than the price of the branded medicines. Around 47% of respondents agree that generic medicines are therapeutically equivalent to the innovator brand product. Majority of the respondents are of opinion that generic medicines follow the same FDA regulatory guidelines as brandedmedicines. More than fifty percent of respondents are not aware of Jan Ausudhi stores operating in India. Jan Ausudhi stores sale only generic medicines.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Nill.

 

REFERENCES:

1      Quality, Not Price, is the Key Issue When Prescribing Generic Drugs in India. Available from: URL: https://thewire.in/health/drugs-generics-branded-health.

2      Generic Drug Facts Available from: URL: https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/GenericDrugs/ucm167991.htm.

3      Singal G L, Nanda A, and Kotwani A comparative evaluation of price and quality of some branded versus branded–generic medicines of the same manufacturer in India. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011 Apr; 43 (2): 131–136.

4      ‘Generics to double in five years’. Available from: URL: http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/pharmaceuticals-generics-to-double-in-five-years/article7642444.ece.

5      Generic drug. Available from: URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_drug

6      Vision, Mission. Available from: URL: http://janaushadhi.gov.in/pmbjp.html.

 

 

Accepted on 18.06.2018       © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2018; 11(8): 3399-3401.