All Generic and Branded Medicines and the rest of the essential medical products on Medkart Pharmacy are sourced directly from reputable manufacturers, ensuring authenticity and compliance with industry standards. The Jan Aushadhi Campaig is a self sustaining business model not dependent on government subsidies or assistance. It is run in a Campaign Mission Mode on the principle of Not for Profits but with Minimal Profits.
Global Reach
These medicines are available through more than 8,600 PMBJKs functioning across the country. Though the active ingredients are the same, generics often come with different packaging, branding, or labeling compared to the original drug. New healthcare challenges are emerging every day, especially with the alarming rise in the number of non communicable and lifestyle diseases and cancers. I urge young researchers to work towards standardizing and benchmarking Indian systems of medicine. It is up to you to establish the efficiency, validity and efficacy of these traditional medicines, using globally established experimental protocols. It is my ambition that along with being the world leader in generic medicines, we should also promote Indian systems of Medicine.
Steps taken for Promotion of Generic Medicines
Indiangenericprice believes that no one should be deprived of essential healthcare, regardless of their location or financial situation. Our goal is to transform global healthcare access by breaking down barriers through convenience and affordability. A ‘public first’ approach to policy, strict medicine patent law and doctors who have used reverse-engineering to introduce generic drugs, are some of the reasons that India has emerged as the ‘pharmacy’ of the developing world.
Medicines for BP Problems
- PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
- The article also highlights the challenges faced by the PMBJP scheme in ensuring the availability and accessibility of medicines in remote areas.
- In 2005, India adopted a strict medicines patent law that, while allowing patent protection for new pharmaceutical compounds, makes it tougher to get a patent on new forms of existing medicines.
- Today, India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of generic medicines, accounting for about 20% of the global supply.
- Moreover, it is easier to get generic medicines directly from online pharmacy 24/7 or in a nearby chemist shop.
- Generic medicines are produced after the patent on a branded drug expires, allowing multiple manufacturers to make the same drug.
- By offering affordable and accessible healthcare options, generic medicines play a critical role in lowering healthcare costs while ensuring high standards of safety and effectiveness.
Medkart Pharmacy offers informational content on various health topics, promoting awareness and well-being among our customers. New molecules and new drugs will have to be discovered and treatment protocols will have to be continuously upgraded and updated. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) imparts quality education in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences. Healthcare is the fifth-largest employer among all sectors, both in terms of direct and indirect employment. Given the significance of highly educated and specialized scientists in the sector, skill development is crucial.
Newly Launched Generic Medicine
Generic medicines play a crucial role in promoting health equity by ensuring that medications are accessible to all segments of the population, regardless of socioeconomic status. This is particularly important in a diverse country like India, where disparities in access to healthcare can be significant. The production of affordable generics helped address critical healthcare needs in India, particularly in treating infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, which were prevalent across the country. Pharma companies should go above and beyond their CSR mandates to provide life saving and other essential drugs to those who cannot afford them. Quality medicines at affordable prices are now available to the poor and disadvantaged through the “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan aushadhi Kendras”.
National Government Services Portal
- Recently, these initiatives have already been started by a few state governments in India.
- It can depend on the clinical data presented by the innovator’s company for the safety profile of the medicine.
- This initiative aimed to promote the use of affordable generic medicines by establishing Jan Aushadhi Kendras (stores) across India, where patients could purchase high-quality generic medicines at significantly lower prices than branded drugs.
- India has always taken a bold and exemplary stand against blind patent protection that benefit global pharma giants.
- He asked young researchers to work towards standardizing and benchmarking Indian systems of medicine and establish the efficiency, validity and efficacy of these traditional medicines, using globally established experimental protocols.
- But the quality of the generic drugs is never compromised.These are cost-effective only as research and development, and drug discovery costs are not involved in the case of generic drugs.
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) oversees the approval and regulation of generic medicines to ensure they meet high standards of safety, efficacy, and quality.
Such patents are routinely granted in the US and other countries, but India chose to prioritise access to medicines over the business interests of the pharmaceutical industry. Yes, generic medicines are available for a wide range of diseases, including chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and infectious diseases. Branded drugs are developed after years of research and clinical trials, making the original manufacturer the exclusive seller for a specific time through a patent.
- By offering affordable and accessible healthcare options, generic medicines play a critical role in lowering healthcare costs while ensuring high standards of safety and effectiveness.
- While the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) has promoted the use of generic medicines, there is still a lack of awareness about the benefits of generics among the general public and even some healthcare professionals.
- The article also highlights the challenges faced by the PMBJP scheme in ensuring the availability and accessibility of medicines in remote areas.
- Rural health programmes, lifesaving drugs and preventive vaccines should also receive attention from policy makers and Pharma companies alike.
- For the benefit of the Indian population, DR BEST Pharmaceuticals also took a great initiative by starting their online pharmacy, which offers generic medicines with up to 80% discount at your doorsteps.
- As of December 2023, the government has already established 10,006, with 206 medicines and 13 surgical equipment have been newly added this year in Jan Aushadhi stores in the country.
- These companies began to challenge the dominance of global pharmaceutical giants by offering the same medicines at significantly reduced prices.
- Today, India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of generic medicines, accounting for about 20% of the global supply.
- This allowed for the production of low-cost, generic versions of medicines that were patented in other countries.
- The Jan Aushadhi initiative will make available quality drugs at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
Overview of Pharmacy associations in India
From legislative changes in the 1970s to the expansion of the global generics market, India’s pharmaceutical industry has grown into a powerhouse. Today, India stands as a leader in the global generic drug market, providing life-saving medicines to millions of people worldwide, while continuing to be a vital player in making healthcare affordable for all. Yet, the country’s marginalised populations have limited access to medicines as branded medicines are sold at significantly higher prices than their unbranded generic equivalents, despite being identical in the therapeutic value. Therefore, there is an urgent need to ensure the availability of cheaper generics to citizens; this is in the best interest of these populations.
Browse Medicines by Categories
Regarding non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he outlined considerable progress in the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke. The government provides free or highly subsidised treatment for NCDs at public hospitals, with major diseases covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY). The scheme, benefiting approximately 55 crore people, offers US$ 5,886 (Rs. 5 lakh) annual health cover for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. Additionally, the scheme has extended coverage to senior citizens aged 70 and above. As of November 30, 2024, 218 AMRIT pharmacies operate across 29 states and Union Territories, offering discounted medicines and surgical items.
Overview of Pharmacy associations in India
The journey of generic medicines in India has been pivotal in transforming the country’s healthcare landscape. From early efforts to make essential medicines affordable to becoming one of the world’s largest producers of generics, India’s generic pharmaceutical industry has a rich history. Here’s a look at the key milestones in the development of generic medicines in India. The Vice President asked Pharma companies to go above and beyond their CSR mandates to provide life saving and other essential drugs to those who cannot afford them. He said that it was essential for a country like India to provide healthcare and medicines at affordable prices. In developing countries, India is rendering yeoman service by providing access to life saving medicines at affordable prices, he added.
Generic Medicines in India: A Revolution in Affordable Healthcare
One of the main reasons to support generic medicine in India is the low cost of generic medicines. More than 70% of the Indian population lives in rural areas, of which 35% are below the poverty line. On the other hand, India’s policy and lawmakers have identified generic competition as the strongest and most effective force to reduce drug prices. Having fewer patents in India means more generic competition, which means more affordable medicines for people and governments in developing countries. They are accepted globally and are of the same quality with a lesser cost as compared to branded drugs.
Drug Price List: Generics and Matching Brands
Developing countries across the world face several challenges, key among which is providing their people with affordable medicines of high-quality. You can purchase generic medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras (government-run stores) and most pharmacies across India. These stores offer a variety of affordable generic alternatives for common medicines.
What healthcare information does Medkart Pharmacy provide?
ConclusionIn conclusion, the PMBJP scheme has been instrumental in making quality generic medicines available and affordable to all sections of society, especially the economically weaker sections in India. The scheme has been successful in increasing the accessibility of medicines to the masses and has helped in reducing healthcare costs for individuals and the government. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, such as ensuring the availability and accessibility of velcade price in mexico medicines in remote areas. The potential of the PMBJP to expand and cover more medicines and medical devices is promising, and it can play a crucial role in achieving the goal of universal health coverage in India. AbstractThis article provides an overview of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme in India. The PMBJP scheme aims to make quality generic medicines available and affordable to all sections of society, especially the economically weaker sections.
Medicines for BP Problems
- It has also introduced a range of fiscal incentives to promote domestic manufacturing, including the reduction of inverted duty structure and basic customs duty.
- They have a common notion that generic drugs are available at a low price so they may be of inferior quality.
- The Vice President said that apart from being the world leader in generic medicines, India should promote Indian systems of Medicine.
- With years of experience and partnerships across the pharmaceutical industry, we guarantee timely and secure delivery.
- Indian pharmaceutical companies started exporting generic drugs to developing countries that were grappling with the high cost of healthcare.
- Under the PMBJP Kendras, a medicine is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of the top three branded medicines.
A major turning point came in 2005 when India amended its patent laws to comply with the World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. The amendment reintroduced product patents for medicines, but India included provisions such as compulsory licensing, which allowed the production of generics for life-saving drugs in cases of public health emergencies. Due to the ability of the Indian pharma companies to produce drugs at economical rates, the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment has gone down to $400 per year from $12,000 – a spectacular contribution to global healthcare. For the benefit of the Indian population, DR BEST Pharmaceuticals also took a great initiative by starting their online pharmacy, which offers generic medicines with up to 80% discount at your doorsteps. The law was designed with the objective of stopping drug giants from indulging in ‘evergreening,’ an unfortunately common and abusive patenting practice in the pharmaceutical industry. It is aimed at filing and then obtaining separate patents – referred to as ‘secondary patents’ – relating to different aspects of the same medicine.
Initiatives to support generics in India
The act abolished product patents on drugs and allowed only process patents for a limited period. This meant that Indian pharmaceutical companies could legally reverse-engineer and produce generic versions of patented drugs by using a different manufacturing process. Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets “Jan Aushadhi Medical Store”, so as to reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare. So it is not only the responsibility of the government to support generics, but we all should also take the initiative to support generics. Recently, these initiatives have already been started by a few state governments in India. Low-cost, generic medicines produced in India are helping millions of people across the world get affordable, high-quality medication.
Lack of awareness
To address this issue government central government started Jan Aushadhi (Medicine for the masses) programme in 2008 with the objective of providing quality medicines at affordable prices. Despite their potential to make healthcare affordable and accessible, generic medicines in India face multiple challenges. Addressing issues related to quality assurance, regulatory enforcement, public awareness, and the perception of generics is essential for improving their acceptance. By overcoming these obstacles, India can better harness the power of generic drugs to benefit its healthcare system and ensure equitable access to essential medicines. By the 1990s, India had become one of the largest suppliers of generic medicines globally.
- All this will have to be achieved without compromising on the affordability of drugs.
- Addressing issues related to quality assurance, regulatory enforcement, public awareness, and the perception of generics is essential for improving their acceptance.
- Increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India, especially in rural areas, can ensure the availability of generic medicines to even the most underserved populations.
- Indiangenericprice believes that no one should be deprived of essential healthcare, regardless of their location or financial situation.
- Contact us today for bulk orders and learn more about how we support the mission of affordable healthcare.
- There is immense scope for technology, innovation and research in pharmaceuticals.
- Similar instructions also have been issued to ‘prescribe drugs with generic name legibly’ to all CGHS Doctors and Wellness Centres.
- The initiative aims to make essential medicines more accessible and affordable through resolute PMBJK outlets.
Under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, as on December 15, 2016, ceiling price of 853 formulations are under price control. It has also introduced a range of fiscal incentives to promote domestic manufacturing, including the reduction of inverted duty structure and basic customs duty. Pharmaceuticals is one of the fastest growing contributors to “Make in India” campaign since its inception. India also has a large pool of talented scientists and engineers who have the potential to lead the industry ahead to greater heights.
Access to affordable HIV treatment from India is one of the greatest success stories in medicine
Yes, Medkart Pharmacy offers a diverse range of over-the-counter products to meet common health needs. We at Medkart Pharmacy dream of making sure that everyone is truly aware of Generic Medicines. You can also buy essential medical products, branded or generic medicines online from medkart official website. Increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India, especially in rural areas, can ensure the availability of generic medicines to even the most underserved populations. As India continues to address its healthcare challenges, the role of generic medicines will remain vital in ensuring that all individuals have access to the medications they need for maintaining good health. Despite these changes, Indian pharmaceutical companies continued to thrive by focusing on producing generics for medicines whose patents had expired and exporting them worldwide.
As previously mentioned, generic medicines are far cheaper than branded drugs, allowing patients to afford treatments for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases without financial strain. “Making quality medicines available at affordable prices has been a key challenge. We will reinvigorate the supply of generic drugs. 3,000 Stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during 2017.” This public health approach to setting strict patent standards is in line with international trade rules and encourages timely entry of affordable generics into the market, driving prices down.
As a result the drug – imatinib mesylate –produced generically costs $790 per patient per year in India compared to $106, 322 per patient per year in the US. Generic drugs are easily available across India, especially with the increasing number of Jan Aushadhi stores in rural and urban areas. All this will have to be achieved without compromising on the affordability of drugs. There should be an unwavering commitment to high standards of quality in drug manufacturing and quality frameworks such as Good Manufacturing Practices should strictly be adhered to. The fixation of ceiling prices on medicines has resulted in a total saving of USD 392 million since May 2014. India has always taken a bold and exemplary stand against blind patent protection that benefit global pharma giants.
Unlike branded medicines, which spend significantly on advertising and promotion, generic drugs rely less on branding and more on their efficacy, resulting in reduced costs. The government has proposed amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to ensure availability of generic drugs at reasonable prices and to promote the use of generic medicines. To ensure high quality, medicines are procured from WHO Good manufacturing practice (GMP), Current Good Manufacturing Practice and CPSUs manufacturers for supplying to Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras. Only after being certified by these laboratories, medicines are dispatched to C&F agents, Distributors and JAKs. In contrast to India’s stricter patentability criteria, the U.S. allows the practice of ‘evergreening’ that helps delay generic competition and keeps prices high.
The scheme is being implemented by the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (BPPI), under the administrative control of the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. As of FY23, it covers 1,759 medicines and 280 surgical & consumables in all key therapeutic categories such as anti-infective, anti-allergic, anti-diabetics, cardiovascular, anti-cancers, and gastrointestinal medicines. India should also enter into international partnerships and agreements in the pharmaceutical sector so that we learn from the best and adopt the best protocols and practices.
These programmes benefit more than 15 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS. This allowed for the production of low-cost, generic versions of medicines that were patented in other countries. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the brand-name drugs, ensuring the same therapeutic benefits. However, the inactive ingredients (such as fillers, colorants, or preservatives) may vary, but they do not affect the drug’s performance.
In order to ensure quality of the products, PMBI procures medicines only from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers. Apart from this, each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras. The government has also launched a mobile application ‘Janaushadhi Sugam’ that provides information to public about location of kendras, help them search Janaushadhi medicines and compare the maximum retail price of Generic vs. Branded medicines, etc.
Under the Scheme, dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) are opened to provide generic medicines at cheaper rates to the citizens. Government has set a target to open 10,500 Kendras across the country by March 2025. As a leading Jan Aushadhi supplier, we are committed to making high-quality, affordable medicines available to healthcare providers and patients across India. Contact us today for bulk orders and learn more about how we support the mission of affordable healthcare.
In 2008, the Indian government launched the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, later renamed Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) in 2015. This initiative aimed to promote the use of affordable generic medicines by establishing Jan Aushadhi Kendras (stores) across India, where patients could purchase high-quality generic medicines at significantly lower prices than branded drugs. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Scheme has introduced 2,047 medicines and 300 surgical devices, including cardiovascular, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic treatments.
Generic medicines in India must adhere to the same regulatory standards as branded drugs. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) oversees the approval and regulation of generic medicines to ensure they meet high standards of safety, efficacy, and quality. This regulatory oversight helps maintain public trust in generic drugs and ensures that they are as effective as their branded counterparts.