In an attempt to encourage the use of low-cost generics, the government plans to color code and symbolize such drugs to enable consumers differentiate between generics and other medicines and take an informed decision while buying them from chemists. Recently, the Health Ministry has taken several steps to promote the purchase of generics over the branded ones. For instance, it has made it compulsory for pharmacies to make separate shelves for displaying the generics and necessitated doctors to prescribe the drugs in legible handwriting.
In the Drugs Consultative Committee Meeting, the pharma companies were addressed to print generic names on their labels in a two size bigger font than the brand name. Further, the government is also strengthening the back end supply chain to encourage Jan Ausadhi stores across the nation, which sells only generic medicines. Presently, there are over…
