Commentary: will generic drug stores improve access to essential medicines for the poor in India?

Policymakers in developing countries are challenged to increase the availability and affordability of essential medicines. To improve access to medicines, the Government of India recently opened Generic Drug Stores in a few public facilities. These stores sell generic medicines manufactured by the public sector manufacturers. The prices are lower than market price. We examine the premise of these stores; where will they fit in the landscape. What can be learned from their early operation and problems encountered? Will selling a small number of generic medicines at public hospitals really improve access to medicines for poor populations? Poor patients are intended to receive medicines free of charge at public facilities. Generic drugs are typically less expensive than brand-name drugs and contain the same active ingredient as the original brand name product. Thus generic medicines may be an affordable alternatives to more costly, patented brand name versions of the product. World Health Organization’s (WHO) essential medicines list is based on generic medicines. In most OECD countries, generic medicines are promoted by competition-enhancing policies operating through health-care reimbursements to contain expenditures and encourage efficient use of resources. India is well known for its prolific pharmaceutical industry that offers low-cost generics to the world. At home India faces the challenge of equal access to affordable and quality essential medicines for its own people. Despite pharmaceutical industry growth in the last two decades, access to essential medicines remains