Prices of some top brands can be as much as 14 times higher
NEW DELHI: A citizen-funded quality study of commonly prescribed medicines has found no difference in quality between expensive branded drugs and the far cheaper generics, including govtsupplied medicines, even as prices of some top brands can be as much as 14 times higher for the same drug.The findings come from Citizens Generic vs Branded Drugs Quality Project by Kerala-based non-profit Mission for Ethics and Science in Healthcare, which tested 131 samples of 22 widely used medicines for heart disease, diabetes, liver disorders, infections, pain, acidity, allergies and thyroid conditions.The project was led by Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, who flagged how fear and mistrust of cheaper medicines — rather than evidence — often push patients to abandon treatment, with serious health consequences.The study covered top branded drugs, branded generics sold by large pharmaceutical companies, trade or local generics and govt medicines supplied under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. All samples were purchased from pharmacies.Testing was conducted at a laboratory accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and US Food and Drug Administration, across five Indian Pharmacopoeia parameters: drug content, dissolution, uniformity, impurities and physical appearance. All genericsmet prescribed quality standards and performed on a par with branded medicines.What stood out was the price gap. The average price per tablet of branded medicines was Rs 11.17, compared with Rs 2.4 for Jan Aushadhi drugs, with several trade generics also being significantly cheaper. For medicines like pantoprazole, atorvastatin and rifaximin, branded versions cost five to 14 times more than the cheapest quality-tested alternatives.Indians incur 62%–69% of healthcare expenditure on medicines. Doctors say high prices often lead to missed doses, irregular intake or treatment discontinuation, especially for chronic illnesses.Senior clinicians said the findings mirror everyday practice. Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant in internal medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said lowercost medicines, including Jan Aushadhi drugs, meet Indian Pharmacopoeia standards and are likely to work as intended. While doctors are comfortable prescribing such options to cost-constrainedpatients, he cautioned that regular monitoring is essential and flagged practical issues such as inconsistent availability, limited dose options, packaging and patient familiarity. Wider availability and assurance of batch-tobatch consistency, he said, would support wider use of such medicines.Dr Sandeep Kharb, senior consultant in endocrinology at Asian Hospital, said the results confirm what clinicians routinely see — that patients do just as well on affordable versions of medicines such as metformin, amlodipine and levothyroxine as on expensive brands. He added that rigorous testing in accredited laboratories addresses most quality concerns and affordability is crucial for long-term adherence to treatment.The study’s authors argue the issue is not price control but transparency and trust. In the absence of accessible quality data, doctors and patients often rely on brand perception rather than evidence — at considerable financial and health cost.
