The Generic Prime Minister

What is this Generic vs Branded controversy. Ultimately what is a generic drug ? A generic drug is a drug which is produced by companies which do not wish to have their name associated with the drug. When a company markets a drug its reputation is at stake and hence hopefully there are quality checks to ensure that the brand value does not suffer due to quality of the product. Is this bad ? A standard established company has its reputation to protect and will go an extra mile to ensure that the product fullfills the doctors and the patients expectations. To ensure this companies spend on Research & Development, surveys, feedbacks from doctors to improve this trust through better quality product.

The problem is when large quantity of drugs have to be procured by Government Hospitals usually the branded drugs with proven reliability are chosen by the doctors as technical experts. This however does not suit the powers that be whose sole intention is to get maximum cut / commission out of any such procurement. A shady factory in a remote area with nothing at stake can provide the drugs (?) along with huge cuts and commissions at a cheaper rate but would our own upright parliamentarians use the same on themselves or for their children. As doctors we all know the difference in efficacy of the same drug produced and marketed by different companies.

I had made sincere attempts to purchase two medicines from the Jan Aushadhi Stores in Chandigarh on my prescription to get them tested in authorized laboratories for their quality. Two stores refused to honour my prescription and wanted only Government Hospital prescription. It has also been brought to my notice that the entire supply of generic medicines of one nearby state has been cornered by one unknown firm owned by a senior politician. No standard company bid has been accepted.

I would be standing shoulder to shoulder with my Prime Minister if he ensures that Sh Arun Jaitley ji is given nothing but generic drugs during and after his out of turn renal transplant at AIIMS. If the dispensary in Parliament is stocked only with Generic drugs or if all CGHS procurement is only generic I will follow suit. Let them practice what they preach before telling me to charge my consultation fee but prescribe drugs on which I have no faith and are of dubious quality to my patients. Pontificating on sponsorship by pharma companies from the podium in an event sponsored by a pharma company seems contradictory to me.

Given the aptitude for Jugaad that we Indians have I am sure that asked to do the same a 747 commercial airliner can be made in Ambala but would our honourable prime minister use that as his personal jet to fly to the umpteen countries changing 3 suits per day at public cost. It would save a lot of public money. I fail to understand why the difference between a brand and generics should be so difficult to understand by a politician of his stature; Sh Narender Modi today is a brand whereas the lowly BJP worker who could also do the job is generic.

Leaders of the nation do not require to pass any entrance test as there is no qualification prescribed hence the statesmanship, vision , understanding and respect for others needed from the leader of the nation obviously cannot be expected . I request the two major political parties of the country to please give some thought to the kind of leaders being chosen. Is it too much to ask for a person who is reasonably educated, cultured, compassionate with some knowledge of economics, political science and history to lead the country. Though I voted for Mr Modi I miss Dr Manmohan Singh and his dignified silence.

Dr Neeraj Nagpal 
Convenor,Medicos Legal Action Group, Managing Director MLAG Indemnity,
Ex President IMA Chandigarh
Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,
1184, Sector 21 B Chandigarh 
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