In the current scenario, healthcare expense is a huge burden for Indian citizens. Traditionally Indians try many things to manage their healthcare expenses like avoiding doctor visits for long times, taking home remedies, trying different therapies like Ayurveda, homeopathy, and others, taking Mediclaim, taking medical covers like corona cover, and many more but this does not lead to proper health management.
This blog on generic medicines will help to balance your monthly household budget and take your medicines regularly.
Table of Contents
What are generic medicines?
The medicine contains a drug or molecule or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient which gives desired therapeutic effects.
APIs are researched and underpasses through trials on Human beings and animals. Once an API or drug passes these trials and is proven safe for the human body, USFDA approves this drug or an API and gives patent rights.
A patent is for a maximum of 20 years, once the patent of that drug expires it is an off-patent medicine or generic medicine.
How many years does it take for a new medication to go generic?
The maximum time for a Patent of a new drug may be 20 years.
USFDA approves the API and gives the sole manufacturing rights to the inventor company for a fixed tenure, and it is called the patent of that molecule. Then it becomes generic medicine.
History of Paracetamol (Dolo 650, Tynolol, Panadol)
Paracetamol was first marketed in the United States in 1950 under the name Triagesic, a combination of paracetamol, aspirin, and caffeine.
After some complications Paracetamol in the year, 1952 paracetamol returned to the US market as a prescription drug.
In the United Kingdom, the marketing of paracetamol began in 1956 by Sterling-Winthrop Co. as Panadol, available only by prescription, and promoted as preferable to aspirin since it was safe for children and people with ulcers.
In 1963, paracetamol was added to the British Pharmacopoeia and has gained popularity since then as an analgesic agent with few side effects and little interaction with other pharmaceutical agents.
A famous brand of paracetamol in India, DOLO 650 is a generic medicine. There are 450+ brands available in India with different brand names like crocin, Calpol, Pacimol, Febrinil, and many others these all are Generic medicines with paracetamol drugs in them as API.
Example of Generic medicine Versus Branded medicine
Lyrica from Pfizer contains the Active pharmaceutical ingredient Pregabalin. When Pfizer was the sole manufacturer, its price was Rs. 884 for 10 tablets.
Pregabalin 75 is the off-patent drug at present in India there are 500+ brands that are sold at Rs. 36 for 10 tablets.
What is the difference between generic and ethical medicine?
Generic medicines are those medicines that have a drug or an active pharmaceutical ingredient like non-Generic medicines. Generic medicines may differ in shape, size, color, and packaging as compared to non-Generic medicine but they both are manufactured in Government of India approved manufacturing units. They follow norms as per the government of India’s direction. Both have the same therapeutic effect and Bioequivalence.
Why Generic medicines are Cost-effective?
Generic medicines are off-patent medicines.
Marketing or branding expenses are not involved.
The supply chain is short.
Generic medicines are sold in India for decades.
Are generic drugs really the same quality as the name brands?
| Generic medicines | Non-Generic or Branded Medicines | |
| Raw Materials Used | As per Pharmacopeia | As per Pharmacopeia |
| Manufactured in Government of India approved manufacturing Plants | Yes | Yes |
| Quality of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient(drug) | As per pharmacopeia | As per pharmacopeia |
| Shelf Life | Long | Long |
| Bioequivalence | Same as branded medicine | |
| Packaging | As per Rules | As per Rules |
| Therapeutic Effect | As Desired | As Desired |
| Marketing expense | Nil | Yes |
Generic Medicines Scenario world
If we consider western countries, 8 out of 10 people want to take generic medicines.
In America, around 57% of patients prefer generic medicines only.
In Canada, 7 patients out of 10 patients’ prescriptions are filled with Generic medicines.
India is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and exporter; India provides around 22 billion US dollars of generic medicines to the world yearly.
Developed countries like America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom prefer generic medicines over non-generic medicines or branded medicines.
How to identify generic medicine?
Generic medicine is very difficult in India as there is no specific differentiation or marking instructions given by the government of India authorities to pharmaceutical companies.
Tell consulting doctor to write the Generic name of the branded drug and then check for a medicine substitute for your branded medicine or non-generic medicine on the chemist180 website along with the price.
Patients can also get generic medicines from medical stores nearby. Any brick-and-mortar stores have generic medicines, and they can easily make them available for you.
Nowadays Generic medicines can be easily identified and buy generic medicine online by uploading your doctor’s prescription on Chemist180 (Website, App on iOS and google play store).
If Citizens of India start opting for generic medicines from reputed companies, they can have huge savings and the same budget can be used for their daily expenses or groceries.
How do I buy online medicines from a generic medicine store?
Chemist180 provides medicines from India’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies and ensure the lowest rates across all online medicine delivery app.
Chemsit180 is an Online pharmacy that gives the fastest delivery pan India.
Million + satisfied customers across India as they provide medicines at affordable rates over a period of 3 years.
Chemist180, is an online medical store providing the widest range of medicines for Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Thyroid, Kidney, Psychiatric, Cancer, Multivitamins like vitamin e capsules and many more, antibiotics like azithromycin and many more.
Generic medicines are available in tablets, capsules, syrups, dusting powders, insulin, Injections, and many others.
Chemist180 has a huge database of generic medicines information and availability.
Chemist180 provides free home delivery across India and all medicines are quality generic medicines.
Is generic medicine available in India?
Currently in India, generic medicines are the top priority for our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi under the Ayushman bharat yojana.
The program, run by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry, was launched in 2008 as a direct market intervention strategy to lower the prices of essential drugs.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) relaunched the ‘Jan Aushadhi’ scheme that aims to make available quality medicines at affordable prices for all, especially the poor.
Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi stores are open across India and provide generic medicines to patients. Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi stores are in metro cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Dehli, Kolkata, and other parts of the country.
Cipla, Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma, Intas, Zydus, Cadila, Abbott, Dr. Morepen, Mankind, and many Indian Top Pharmaceutical companies manufacture generic medicines.
Patients can get generic medicines at the Jan Aushadhi Kendra near them or through many online pharmacies. At present, there are more than 500 pharmaceutical companies in India that sells generic medicines.
Which is the best app to find generic medicines online in India?
Buy generic medicines online from chemist180, medicines provided will only be from India’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies. Chemist180, an online pharmacy app is available on iOS, google Playstore and is present on various platforms are YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.