MEDICINES in this country are beyond the common man’s reach.

Reports have appeared in the media that the government is considering the manufacture of drugs in their generic names instead of the branded name. The delay is probably owing to vested interests.

Generic drugs are usually sold for significantly lower prices than their branded equivalent. A reduction of up to 80 per cent in cost is possible in the case of most drugs. This is owing to the increased competition in manufacture and marketing made possible only when the drugs are no longer protected by patents.

Companies incur fewer costs in manufacturing generic drugs — the cost being only of the manufacture, instead of the total cost of development and testing — and therefore are able to maintain profitability at a lower price.

India has taken the lead and started the manufacture of generic drugs. I urge the federal and provincial governments to make efforts towards this objective.

Hidayatullah Khan

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2015

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