A common man in Kashmir is still paying huge sums on medicines because the doctors, despite repeated and time-to-time directions, are still not prescribing generic drugs, which not only are cheaper but also come with the added effect of enhanced efficacy. But the doctors in this part of the world—with exceptions, indeed—are more worried about what brand of medicines they prescribe rather than the scale of efficacy. As a result, where just a single tablet would have done its job, the patient has no way out but to at least consume 4, which then increases the out-of-pocket expenditure, too, making access to healthcare unaffordable for the poor.
To curb the practice of not prescribing generic drugs to the patients, decrease the out-of-pocket expenditure, improve the efficacy of the drugs, and make healthcare affordable, the Government has already launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ under which a chain of ‘Jan Aushadi’ stores have been set up across J&K, especially outside the hospitals and other healthcare facilities. These stores are not only selling generic drugs but do that at affordable prices. However, what seems to be a hurdle is that the doctors are still not prescribing the generic drugs, even though some are, but the majority is of those who are not, and are making it difficult for people who, despite having the facility, are not being benefitted. The fault is with the doctors; and then comes the administration which has so far failed in addressing the issue in the manner it should have been.
The Directorate of Health Services in Kashmir has already set up a Prescription Audit Committee (PAC) which has been tasked to see the percentage of prescriptions where the generic drugs have been prescribed; and accordingly, submit its report along with the necessary recommendations, however, so far, after the passage of more than 7 months—the PAC was formed in January this year—there has not been any development in this direction. The report as well as the recommendations have not been made public till today—it is also not known if any action has been taken based on the report(s) submitted; if submitted at all.
What happens in the hospitals is in the control of the health authorities, but the civil administration across Kashmir also needs to get serious about ensuring the medical shops sell generic drugs. The Government must make it necessary for them to keep the generic drugs, too, available for the people so that the people have a choice of whether to go for brands or the generic drugs because this is the high time to act. Having generic drugs is the right of people and the same calls for the administration to be responsive and prompt. Also, renewed directions should be passed down the line, directing the doctors to go for only generic medicines which remain available to the general public at the nearby ‘Jan Aushadi’ stores.
