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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Branded medicines cost 15 times more than generic ones

Branded medicines cost 15 times more than generic ones

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published Published on Aug 7, 2013   modified Modified on Aug 7, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Branded medicines cost 2-15 times more than non-branded generic medicines sold at Jan Aushadhi stores.

For example, a 10-tablet strip of Diclofenac SR (100mg), a popular pain killer, costs Rs 51.91 whereas the same generic medicine costs only Rs 3.35 at Jan Aushadhi stores. An 100 ml bottle of cough syrup manufactured and marketed by drug companies costs Rs 33 while those sold at Jan Aushadhi stores are available at an average of Rs 13.30.

The government admitted in a reply to Parliament on Tuesday that the high cost of branded drugs was due to "promotional efforts" made in selling these products.

"Prices of branded medicines are generally higher than prices of equivalent generic medicines due to promotional efforts made in selling such products. Besides, some branded drugs enjoy patent protection and a number of drugs are not covered under regulation through the Drug Prices Control orders," minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers Srikant Kumar Jena said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

A list of drugs and their prices submitted by the minister showed a wide gap between branded drugs and generic ones. One such popular drug - Paracetamol (10 tablets) -- costs Rs 13.56. The same costs around Rs 2.45 in Jan Aushadhi stores.

In the case of generic drugs sold at Jan Aushadhi stores, the medicines are directly supplied through stockists at actual cost and a limited profit. "It is a conscious decision of the government to keep prices of medicines at affordable levels for the benefit of all," Jena said.


The Times of India, 7 August, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Branded-medicines-cost-15-times-more-than-generic-ones/articleshow/21667505.cms


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