By Arun Sharma
New Delhi | Special Report

In a finding that could significantly ease the financial burden of healthcare for millions, a new citizen-funded study has concluded that generic medicines are as safe, effective and high in quality as their far more expensive branded counterparts—despite costing a fraction of the price.


The study reveals that prices of some leading branded medicines can be five to 14 times higher than equivalent generic drugs, even though no meaningful difference in quality was detected.


Conducted under the Citizens’ Generic vs Branded Drugs Quality Project by the Kerala-based non-profit Mission for Ethics and Science in Healthcare, the research tested 131 samples of 22 commonly prescribed medicines used for heart disease, diabetes, liver disorders, infections, pain, acidity, allergies and thyroid conditions.


Passed All Quality Benchmarks
All samples—branded, trade generics and government-supplied medicines under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)—were purchased from pharmacies and tested at NABL-accredited laboratories following Indian Pharmacopoeia and US FDA-aligned standards.


Parameters included drug content, dissolution, uniformity, impurities and physical appearance.
The results showed that all generic medicines met prescribed quality standards and performed on par with branded drugs.


Stark Price Gap
The price difference, however, was striking. The average cost of a branded tablet was ₹117, compared with just ₹2.4 for Janaushadhi medicines. Drugs such as pantoprazole, atorvastatin and rifaximin were found to be significantly cheaper in their generic versions without any compromise in quality.


High Medicine Costs Affect Treatment
Medical experts point out that Indians spend 62–69% of their healthcare expenses on medicines, making affordability a critical factor in treatment adherence. High drug prices often lead to missed doses or treatment discontinuation, particularly among patients with chronic illnesses.


Senior clinician Dr Suranjit Chatterjee of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said lower-cost medicines, including Janaushadhi drugs, meet Indian Pharmacopoeia standards and are reliable in clinical practice.


Similarly, Dr Sandeep Kharb, senior endocrinologist at Asian Hospital, noted that affordable versions of medicines such as metformin, amlodipine and levothyroxine work just as effectively as expensive brands.


Trust and Transparency Key
The authors of the study argue that the real challenge is not price regulation, but lack of transparency and trust. In the absence of easily accessible quality data, doctors and patients often rely on brand perception rather than evidence—adding to financial stress without clinical benefit.


Experts say wider acceptance of quality-assured generic medicines could make healthcare more affordable, improve long-term treatment adherence and protect both the health and finances of patients, especially in a country where out-of-pocket medical spending remains high.