Usage of Generic Medicines Vis-à-vis Branded Drugs

Even with the advancement of free information through many media platforms, there remains a group of people who do not have any trust or confidence in generic drugs. Their outlook is based on the cheaper pricing of the generics and concludes that they must be inferior to branded drugs in quality and efficacy. This has at times caused untold friction between service providers and recipients as when accused of prescribing or dispensing “fake” medications. In some instances, there has been no understanding even when the pharmacists explain that the pricing has nothing to do with the quality or efficacy. There are also those who will adamantly ask for branded drugs because they believe it gives them a higher status. There is still another group that will request generics, by knowledge and others because it is much cheaper than brand.

So why all the confusion? According to Jayesh Saini, this is mainly brought about by a lack of proper information to the masses regarding why generics are cheaper. Unfortunately, this does not only affect the general population; there are some pharmaceutical technicians who actually do not have the correct answers for their clients and they end up creating more confusion, mistrust, and wrong conclusions.

 

With a vested interest in the pharmaceutical sector, Jayesh Saini points out that the same generic and branded drugs have the same qualities in terms of key factors such as efficacy, strength, effect, dosage, form, administration routes, quality, safety, interactions, and side effects if any and environments of manufacture but may vary in packaging and color in some instances. He clarified that a generic drug imitates a branded drug and the main reason the former is more expensive than generics is that the manufacturers of the branded invest more resources and time in R&D, clinical trials, authorization by relevant bodies, patenting, branding and marketing before it is ready human consumption. It is this pioneering process that makes the branded medicines to be referred to as “original” compared to the generic. On the other hand, once the patent period is over, the formulary which was only known to the manufacturer is now available and manufacturers, who do not need to carry out the aforementioned activities can now manufacture generic versions of the same formulary. They invest less financial and technological inputs as this has already been done during the branded drugs manufacturing. This in turn allows them to be cheaper priced than the branded.

 

it is unfortunate that when contraband drugs are accosted, there is a general tendency to assume that it refers to generic medicines. However, contrabands can be branded drugs that are being illegally imported and thus curtailing critical issues such as approvals and taxes.

The bottom line is that both generics and branded drugs offer the same results for the intended purpose and the former is cheaper in price. For money-smart persons or those with a desire to receive more for their money, generics are a better choice realizing that there are some insurance covers that do not cover branded drugs.