Generic medicines have long occupied an uneasy space in Indian healthcare. While they are widely recognized as a cost-effective alternative to branded drugs, concerns about quality and consistency continue to influence prescribing habits and patient perceptions. A new study, however, suggests that the price gap between branded and generic medicines may be far larger than many realize, while quality differences may be far smaller. The study, conducted by the Medical Evidence and Systems Hub (MESH), evaluated 131 medicine samples across 22 categories of essential drugs.
Researchers compared premium branded medicines, branded generics, Jan Aushadhi products, government-supplied medicines, and local generic formulations. The findings are likely to fuel ongoing discussions around rational prescribing and healthcare affordability. According to the study, all tested medicines met the quality…
