Ongoing robbery in the name of selling generic drugs cheaply

- Antenna-Vivek Mehta

- Since there are no standards for determining the maximum retail price of generic drugs, haphazardly printed MRP.

In the name of making generic drugs cheaper, exorbitant prices are being charged. Since the government has no control over the printing of the maximum retail price of generic drugs made due to the exemption of the product to everyone after the expiry of the patent, Rs. An MRP of Rs 150 is printed on a drug with a production cost of Rs 10 and then a 20 to 5 per cent discount is announced. After receiving this discount, the buyer has to pay two to three times the price of the product.

Citing an example, some chemists say that these drugs have the same ingredients as branded drugs, but the cost is much lower as there is no cost to research. So these drugs can be sold cheaply. But it is written on it as much as MRP branded medicine. Chemists then give them the impression that the drug is cheaper by giving them a discount of 20 to 5 per cent. Patients who find a drug that seems to be cheaper in this way actually find it to be much more expensive than its cost.

Under the Drug Price Control Order, generic drugs can be supplied to the stockist by raising the drug margin and the stockist can get a margin of 5%. Also, chemists are allowed to make a profit of up to 50 per cent under the Drug Price Control Order. The MRP is calculated only after adding the profits of manufacturers, distributors and retailers to the maximum retail price printed on the drug blister pack or bottle. Are determined. No drug can be sold at a price higher than this MRP. It is a crime to sell drugs at a higher price.

But boards selling drugs at prices ranging from 20 to 30 per cent lower than the maximum retail price printed on the drug are found in chemists' shops. It just shows that the maximum retail price printed on it is much higher. That's why chemists can offer discounts ranging from 20 to 30 percent. The maximum retail price on a packet of 12 tablets of Alembic Pharma Aginal is Rs. 3.2 is printed. Its pack of 10 tablets cost Rs. 18 per cent GST is levied on the price of Rs. Thus, its price is 4.5. The chemist gave the drug at a discount of 50 per cent on the price printed on it. Even if it sells at 9.50, the customer gets the drug at half price. Yet with every level of profit it costs Rs. Not more than 2.30. So the drug to the consumer is actually Rs. Should meet at 9.30. The same medicine costs Rs. Bought at 4.30. Thus, after getting a 20 per cent discount, the customer who buys the drug pays another 100 per cent more than the cost of the chemist's profit.

The customer is happy to get a discount and the chemist is happy to get a profit of 150 per cent instead of 20 per cent. Is printed. The drug costs a retail chemist Rs. Ten tablets are offered at a price of Rs 12.50. Even if the retailer adds 50 per cent of its margin and levies 15 per cent GST, it will cost Rs. Not more than 50. In fact, the retail chemist has to pay Rs. There is an opportunity to earn a profit of Rs. Out of which he spent Rs. Even if he gives a discount of Rs. 5 remains. In this situation, to attract the customer, the chemist exercises to attract the customer by putting up a board giving 20 to 5 percent discount.

To attract customers, one chemist will give 50 per cent discount while another chemist will give 50 per cent discount. In fact, both the chemists have robbed the patient after buying the medicine at a discounted price. Drug chain store owners also do not offer discounts to patients. Their profits are higher than those of a discounted chemist. Thus consumers live under the illusion that they are getting cheaper medicine. The government should set standards for writing MRP on it to stop this robbery.