Would like to share a post by my thoughtful friend Aniket (aniket1@vsnl.com).
SPREAD THE WORD PLEASE!!
Hi All,
I share a recent personal experience – I hope all of you will find useful.
After watching the Satyamev Jayate episode related to the medical industry, we were made aware of the difference between sales cost of branded medicines and generics (identical medicines with different brandnames).
I got the direct benefit of this input just a couple of days ago:
My mother was prescribed “Ceftum 500” – Manufacturer Glaxo SmithKline(Generic Name – Cefuroxime Axetil – strength 500 mg).
A strip of 4 tablets costs Rs. 341.50 – i.e. each tablet costs over 85 Rs.
I asked the chemist for a cheaper alternative tablet of Cefuroxime Axetil 500 mg.
I was offered a strip of 10 – called Zefu 500 (identical medicine – Cefuroxime Axetil 500 mg)- for the cost of approx. 205 Rs. – at Rs. 20.50 per tablet.
The manufacturer – FDC is a very reputed pharma company . (The manufacturer of Electral)
Here is a chart that highlights the vast difference in pricing – of different manufacturers:
http://patientindia.com/resultDetails.php?searchC=1&genId=471&brandId=4854, the price structure is dated, GSK have since increased their pricing – but as a representation you can find pricing for an identical drug – from 21 Rs to 80 Rs – available from a wide variety of manufacturers!
Shame on the FDA in India which allows such disparate pricing, and shame on doctors who prescribe such fancily priced medicines blindly (on rare occasions without awareness- but in most cases – with complete knowledge of the vast price gap!). We pay these fancy prices, and doctors are taken to international conferences: wined, dined and bribed – courtesy our generosity.
We are ignorant and as a result being royally fleeced, and what is most damning in this scenario – is that most people really struggle to pay the cost of these fancy priced medicines.
There is a social consequence to this malpractice.
Far too often people may hesitate to approach the chemist – with a fear psychosis – (“the cheapest medicine may not be the best, may be spurious etc.)
But the truth is that there are a plethora of pharma companies – very well reputed – which produce a standard medicine and deliver the goods to you.
Generic chemist shops are flourishing in Rajasthan and saving the common man significant money.
It is important to recognize that Pharma companies which distort pricing – are relying solely on an unholy nexus, and not a genuine quality difference – to sell their product at exorbitant price.
Next time, please do not hesitate to ask your chemist for the generic name – of any brand your doctor prescribes to you, and DEMAND the CHEAPEST alternative.
Please spread this info, to your friends and relatives, and let everyone demand a fair priced generic medicine from their local chemist.
Thank you, Aamir Khan!