Hyderabad: Lack of access to essential medicines for malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes and HIV/AIDS continues despite attempts to make them easily available, a report published in the Journal of Global Health said. The survey found that competition within India’s vast market for generic drugs has created a perception that generic drugs are available all over the country.
But the survey shows that these drugs are inaccessible for many and also unaffordable. There have also been allegations that many pharmaceutical companies have failed to comply with the national essential list and the order on drug price control. A senior drug controller said on condition of anonymity, “There is a wilful violation in following the price control order. With an exhaustive list of drugs and many multiple brands and generics, it is difficult to find out who is actually implementing and who is not.”
The survey found that the price difference between a branded drug and its generic version in some cases was 10 to 15 times high. But the moot point is that generics are not available everywhere, while branded drugs are all over the place because of manufacturers’ promotion and the publicity blitz.
Senior pharmacist Dr Sai Kumar Katam said, “There are two reasons for lack of essential medicines both in the city and periphery areas of Hyderabad.
“Doctors are still not writing the names of generics alongside branded drugs. There are not enough pharmacists to convince patients to buy generics if they can’t afford the branded drugs. Often patients’ relatives walk away without buying medicines as they can’t afford the cost.”
Five most common drugs in short supply
1) Artemisinin for malaria
2) Lamivudine for HIV/AIDS
3) Rifampicin for TB control
4) Oxytocin for reproductive health
5) Fluoxetine for mental health
10% of the retail stores in periphery areas did not have Metformin which is used for diabetes.
40% of pharmacies did not have Rifampicin used for tuberculosis.
50% of other drugs were in shortage.
