New Delhi: Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance on a government proposal of the IPA Common Options But Jan Aushadhi Kendra (J.A.K.) All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) wrote a letter Union Health Ministry urged them to ‘allow’ them to distribute options Prescription medicines “In the interest of patients”.

In a letter to the Union health minister, the advocacy group categorically opposed the stance of the IPA (an alliance of India’s top 26 drugmakers), which had said last month that going ahead with the move would “open the door to similar demands by trade channels such as general pharmacy stores.”

On the contrary, AIDAN reported that, “This move is in the interest of patients and will help break the myth that only well-known brands are of good quality.” Further, experts said that the functioning of state FDAs should be overhauled with a massive increase in the number of drug inspectors, according to Mashelkar.

Quoting the National Drug Survey (NDS) Drug advocacy group Opposed IPA’s stand on NSQ (Not Standard Quality) drugs and said that “many well-known brands have also been found to be NSQ.”

The open letter from drug advocates urged that the Union Health Ministry should constitute an expert panel to assess the feasibility of allowing the use of generic drugs in place of prescribed drugs, provided they match the original drugs in “substance, strength and dosage form”.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is considering a proposal to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and its related regulations to allow substitution of drugs specified under Schedules H, H1 and X, with the aim of promoting “quality generic medicines at affordable prices”.