On a related note:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/10/25/041025crat_atlarge?currentPage=all

I am neither inviting you nor barring you from posting here.

If all a patient needs is a laptop that works, then it’s wrong to ‘prescribe’ them a MacBook Pro, due to real or perceived quality.

There are enough literature available to inform doctors about the various brands and generics available - IDR and the likes is what I hear. So if the doctor is not expected to know, then is the patient expected to know? That’s very realistic and reasonable I say

BTW I am a few hours away from the GH. I am not interested in spending 4 hours in travel alone for treating a normal infection. I am willing to pay a price to the doctor for the convenience of a consultation in my neighborhood. I have no problems in paying his consultation fee. What concerns me is the other perceived or real hidden fees.

The real deal is not many even well educated folks know about the difference between generics and branded drugs. Plus, I do not know if what the doctor writes is a generic or branded.

I never claimed to know a lot about medicine. I am raising something which i believe has significant cost impacts for the patients. It is for the medical community to evolve systems which works for everybody in a transparent way - to avoid abuses and exploitation. Otherwise the poor man will go straight to the nearby pharmacy and get spurious drugs which is a lose lose proposition for any right thinking person.

Of course not all doctors are bathani the same way that not all auto drivers are bad, not every govt. employee is corrupt etc. that just adds very little to the conversation IMHO.

There are economic reasons ( low cost) to prescribe generic drugs
There are medical reasons ( bio availability, safety) to prescribe branded drugs

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Both sides have their points

Unless government supplies the drugs (after ensuring QC) , prescription of generic drugs is not advisable

I am just pointing out that your view is not 100 % correct

TNMSC gets only generic drugs
But they do work, because those drugs are FROM ESTABLISHED companies with definite QC Norms

Let me give you few links for your side too

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/300/21/2514.short

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/301/16/1654.2.extract

In Government Setup, TNMSC model is based on studies like this

That Generic is effective as Branded, when QC Norms are adhered too

There is no issue regarding use of Generic in Government Setup as the purchases are made in bulk and there is a mechanism for testing the drugs

–

But

How are you going to know the QC when you are going to buy Over the counter

This is the main issue

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Should a doctor test whether the generic drug works on the patient, or should he stick with the time tested branded drug

Answer this question

is the Branded system like VAIO, HP Pavilion, MacBook same as that of a assembled one with similar configuration

Yes

or

No

Brand name is giving the name of the model ” SONY VAIO, HP Pavilion etc

–

If I recommend VAIO to you and if you decide to buy an assembled system with the same configuration, can you expect the same performance

This is the first difference

There are other differences too

If you really interested in learning them, i will explain

But

Even after that, if you are going to say that “I am not convinced” what is the need for the explanation

Don’t you think the doctor’s lack of awareness of generics comes at the patients expense?

//

A doctor cannot be expected to know each and every brand name of each and every drug

He prescribes what he is comfortable with

//If mankind pharma can sponsor a paid vacation to the doc, atleast it burns a lesser hole in my pocket.//

That is fair

//BTW, Bruno your analogy to monu’s comment was not very relevant. The position of the healthcare providers and that of a laptop salesman or for that matter a car salesman are very different.//

I know that

I was just telling you that IT IS WRONG TO BRAND EVERYTHING as one

// There is an element of trust in doctors ( that he/she will do only the right thing to cure my disease at the cheapest possible cost ) which is never the case with any sales guy.//

I was not referring to SALES GUY

I was telling to a advice by a friend

Please read again

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//I am yet to see a person visit multiple doctors for a throat infection or fever.//

That shows that you have very very less knowledge about this field :)

//Maybe people do when someone is suggested a by-pass surgery.//

Why can’t you come to GH one day

I will show you people who visit various departments of the same GH :)

//Why does that Avadi company even operate in this business if their product is not upto standards?//

The same way Assembled computers operate vs Apple Computers

The same way you get a MP3 Player for 500 rupees in ritchie street vs iPod

// Do you expect the public to avoid the avadi company and choose Parke Davis?//

That is for them to decide !!

//As you yourself did not deny, I personally know doctors working in leading hospitals who are indeed taken care by the pharma companies. It’s very naive to think the doctors will not be influenced when they write prescription.//

It is very naive to think that doctors are always influenced when they write prescription