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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | For cheaper drug options, send SMS-Rupali Mukherjee

For cheaper drug options, send SMS-Rupali Mukherjee

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published Published on Jul 17, 2012   modified Modified on Jul 17, 2012
-The Times of India

Some good news for consumers might be at hand. You would soon be able to find the most affordable alternative to the medicine prescribed by your doctor through an SMS-based service. The service, expected to be launched by the government in August, will be available throughout the country.

Here is how it works: Once the person sends a text message of the prescribed brand of drug to a particular number from his mobile, he will receive two to three options of the same medicine, along with the price differential. Say, a patient is prescribed a popular anti-infective like Augmentin (GlaxoSmithKline). He types in Augmentin and sends the SMS to the designated number. He would get a return SMS, possibly mentioning Moxikind CV (Mankind), which is substantially cheaper. But sources said that all responses would come with a caution: please consult the doctor before popping the alternative (pill).

Sometimes, the price differential between two alternatives of the same medicine is huge—up to 10-15 times.

"This service would help a patient choose the cheapest alternative available," an industry source said.

The government plans to cover at least two-thirds of the prescription market through this scheme, which would include all widely used therapies like anti-infectives, painkillers, respiratory and gastro-intestinal drugs.

There would, however, be riders. The government will set in filters where options may not be available. These would include cases where the person is suffering from serious ailments, and certain lifestyle diseases like diabetes where the medicine and dose vary according to the person's physiological conditions. Also, there could be riders specifying that the alternative offered has to be from large companies with a national presence.

Though consumers are price-sensitive, they may not be aware of cheaper options which exist for a particular drug. The SMS programme will arm the consumer with cheaper options.

Industry sources said the contract for managing the service has been allotted to a Delhi-based firm, and the model for operating the service is being finalized.

However, similar consumer initiatives of the government in the past have not met with much success. A few years ago, the government had launched a 24x7 helpline where a consumer could complain of being overcharged by a chemist. It also gave consumers information on essential medicines and their prices, besides helping them locate a cheaper generic version if an expensive, branded version had been prescribed.

The Times of India, 17 July, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/For-cheaper-drug-options-send-SMS/articleshow/15010748.cms


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