Fact or fiction? Time to debunk the myths and embrace generic drugs

For decades, pharmaceutical companies have been spending billions of dollars in marketing their brand-name drugs to doctors and consumers alike. With catchy names and flashy advertisements, these drugs have been the go-to for many people seeking medical treatment. However, with the introduction of generic drugs, many of the myths surrounding brand-name drugs have been debunked.

Firstly, it's important to understand the difference between generic drugs and brand-name drugs. A brand-name drug is a medication that is developed and sold under a specific brand name by a pharmaceutical company. When a drug is first developed, the company that creates it is granted a patent, which allows them to be the only ones to sell the drug for a certain amount of time. After the patent expires, other companies are allowed to create and sell generic versions of the drug.

Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, but they are often much cheaper because they don't have the same research and development costs as the brand-name drug. This therefore means that generic drugs are essentially copies of brand-name drugs, but they are sold under their chemical name instead of a brand name. They are just as effective and safe as their brand-name counterparts, but at a fraction of the cost. The FDA in the US estimates that generic drugs cost 80 to 85 per cent less than brand-name drugs.

History of generic drugs

The history of generic drugs dates back to the early 1900s, when the US government passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. This act required drug manufacturers to accurately label their products, but it wasn't until 1938 that the FDA was given the power to regulate drugs for safety and effectiveness. In 1984, the Hatch-Waxman Act was passed, which made it easier for generic drug manufacturers to bring their products to market.

Despite the safety and effectiveness of generic drugs, many people still believe in the myths surrounding brand-name drugs.

Debunking the myths

There are still many myths surrounding the use of generics. One of the most common misconceptions is that generic drugs are less effective than brand names. This simply isn't true. As we mentioned earlier, generic drugs must be identical to their brand name counterparts in terms of active ingredient, dosage form, route of administration, strength, and intended use. This means that they are just as effective as brand names.

Another myth surrounding generic drugs is that they are of lower quality. This is also untrue. In fact, generic drugs are held to the same rigorous standards as brand name drugs. They must meet the same FDA standards for purity, strength, and quality.

Some people also believe that generic drugs are more dangerous than brand names. This is simply not the case. Both generic drugs and brand names must go through the same rigorous testing process to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the FDA requires that generic drugs have the same warning labels as brand names. One of the biggest myths surrounding generic drugs is that they are inferior in quality. However, studies have shown that generic drugs are just as high in quality as brand-name drugs. In fact, a study conducted by the FDA found that generic drugs are equivalent to brand-name drugs in quality, purity, and potency.

Another myth is that brand-name drugs are safer than generic drugs. However, the FDA requires generic drugs to meet the same safety and quality standards as brand-name drugs. In fact, the FDA estimates that generic drugs are just as safe and effective as brand-name drugs

Statistics and studies

There are many statistics and figures that support the use of generic drugs over brand names. Here are a few: According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is no evidence to suggest that brand name drugs are more effective than generic drugs.

And a report from the Congressional Budget Office found that the use of generic drugs saved the US healthcare system $265 billion between 2005 and 2014. In 2019, generic drugs made up 90 per cent of prescriptions dispensed in the US, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines. The World Health Organisation recommends the use of generic drugs as a key strategy to increase access to affordable healthcare. The Kenyan government itself is not involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, having divested from it in the 1980's. There are more than 40 privately local pharmaceutical manufacturers, producing a wide range of generic medicines for local distribution, as well as export.

However, more needs to be done by the government having recognised the need to use generics as a framework to ensure access to essential medicines. Through Session paper No 4 of the 2012 National Pharmaceuticals Policy NPP, the government identified the lack of enforcement of generic prescribing and substitution as one of the key legal and institutional issues hampering healthcare access. The paper further pointed out several interventions such as expanding local generic pharmaceutical production effectively reducing overall transaction costs for the pharmaceutical supply chain, through short lead times, greater flexibility on deliveries, credit facilities and reduced need for large buffer stocks. In Kenya, the use of generic drugs has been low for several reasons. One of the main reasons is the lack of awareness and education on the effectiveness and safety of generic drugs. Many people are still under the impression that brand-name drugs are more effective, even though studies have shown otherwise. Lack of education is compounded by the fact that many healthcare providers are also unaware of the benefits of generic drugs and may not prescribe them to their patients.

There needs to be a multi-faceted approach through the Ministry of Health and Parliament and closely supported by other stakeholders such as insurance firms and privately held healthcare facilities that includes education and awareness campaigns, improved regulation and quality control, and efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all. By increasing the use of generic drugs, more people can access affordable healthcare and improve their health outcomes. It's time to debunk the myths surrounding generic drugs and embrace them as a country, especially using the Indian Model.