What's in a name? 10 reasons why DRAP's directives for using generic names of medicines may backfire

Description

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recently directed all provincial governments to ensure that doctors in public and private healthcare facilities prescribe medicines only with their generic names.

The Drap's notification came in response to public outcry over common malpractice in the country where pharmaceutical companies are accused of offering financial incentives to encourage medical practitioners to favour a particular brand.

We welcome the new regulations that were issued ostensibly to reduce the public's out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines by increasing public access to low-cost generic drugs. The Drap has also recently sought stakeholders' opinions on the registration of generic medicines.

In this article, we highlight the pitfalls of the newly proposed generic prescribing regulations, which if left unaddressed, can jeopardise the foreseen benefits.

Subject

Innovator vs. generic medicines and prescribing regulations in Pakistan