Sir,
This is in reference to the news item “Drug mafia sabotaging generic drug use:DAK ” published in DE,April,20,2017.In a startling revealation it has been reported by Doctors Association Kashmir(DAK) that the drug mafia is sabotaging generic drug use in Kashmir.DAK president in a statement has said that there is a deep-rooted nexus between doctors and pharma companies that is keeping generic drugs away from the patients. Doctors are prescribing expensive brand name drugs when equally effective cheaper generic substitutes are available in the market. In consideration the doctors are provided everything from luxury cars, family trips to foreign countries, household items etc. It is pertinent to mention here that generic drug is a medicine that is equivalent to a brand-name in dosage, strength, route of administration, quality. Moreover these drugs are 80-90% less costly than brand-name drugs.
Still the people believe that the profession of doctor is noble. Thousands of patients suffering from different diseases are being saved with the concerted efforts of the doctors with the association of para medical staff. It may not be out of place to mention here that the medical profession has become a lucrative business today. However, there are number of doctors who still are charging nominal consultation fee from their patients. In Jammu a well known cardiologist is serving the people of this region along with his dedicated team of doctors and Para medical staff without charging any fee from the patients. But it is also a fact that black sheep are everywhere. These professional misguide their patients for their own interest. Despite clear directions from the Health department doctors are still prescribing branded drugs .A misconception is created in the mind of the patient that the generic drugs donot contain quantity of a particular salt required for a single dose. Patient is so convinced that he is constrained to buy brand name drug only for his speedy recovery by paying 80-90% more than the cost of generic drug. It has also been experienced that the medicine prescribed in the prescription slip is generally available in the chemists shop nearest to the consulting room of the doctor .If you wish to purchase the same medicine from chemist shop nearest to your residence or from other town you may not find that medicine /medicines in the chemist shop of that area. This is only because the chemists know that what brand name drugs are being prescribed by the doctor/doctors of a particular area and only those branded medicines are procured by them or the doctor knows what branded drugs are available in the chemists shops nearest to their consulting room and so only such medicines are prescribed to the patients. Thus it clearly establishes that there is nexus between doctors and pharma companies that is keeping generic drugs away from the patients as pointed out by DAK.
It is the need of the hour that all the doctors/ chemists / pharmas avoid unethical means of profession/ business. They should come forward to help the poor citizens of this country.
Yours etc……..
S.S.Jamwal,
New Plots, Jammu
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