Expert Panel To Soon Weigh Plan To Use Generics For Prescription Drugs

New Delhi: An expert committee is likely to meet soon to deliberate on a contentious proposal to assess the feasibility of allowing generic substitutions for prescription drugs, said people familiar with the matter.

The proposal has become a bone of contention between the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), which represents the country’s big drug makers, and the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), a network of several health organisations. The IPA is opposing the proposal to allow government-run Jan Aushadhi Kendras to dispense substitutes of
prescription medications, claiming that it would open floodgates of similar demands by trade channels, such as general pharmacy stores, “which will not be in the interest of patients”.

The IPA represents drugmakers such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Piramal Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Lupin, Cipla and Cadila Pharmaceuticals. The IPA has also said the absence of proper regulatory oversight could result in spurious drugs being dispensed to patients.

AIDAN, on the other hand, said the permission to Jan Aushadhi Kendras to substitute brands with generic name medicines would be “in the interest of patients”.

“A committee will take up this matter to deliberate the concerns of all stakeholders,” said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.

AIDAN wrote to the health minister this week urging the government “to work for the consumer and leave no stone unturned towards making life saving medicines (available) at affordable price”. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been mulling a proposal to make changes to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its regulations to allow the substitution of drugs specified under schedules H, H1, and X with a view to promoting quality generic medicines at affordable prices.

Related Posts

  • Pharma
  • June 12, 2025
  • 75 views
Dabur reaches out to distributors as quick commerce disrupts general trade

New Delhi:  Dabur India has reached out to the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), representing over 450,000 FMCG distributors and 13 million kirana stores, to reaffirm its commitment…

  • Pharma
  • June 12, 2025
  • 81 views
Kerala Launches MedWatch App to Verify Medicine Authenticity

The Kerala State Drugs Control Department is developing a new mobile application called “MedWatch” that will enable citizens to verify the authenticity and quality of medicines purchased from pharmacies. The…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

FUJIFILM resolves to detect Breast Cancer early with Apollo Hospitals

FUJIFILM resolves to detect Breast Cancer early with Apollo Hospitals

Dabur reaches out to distributors as quick commerce disrupts general trade

Dabur reaches out to distributors as quick commerce disrupts general trade

Kerala Launches MedWatch App to Verify Medicine Authenticity

Kerala Launches MedWatch App to Verify Medicine Authenticity

Pilani Public School begins in Vizag

Pilani Public School begins in Vizag