A cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitudes, practices and barriers regarding generic medicines and Jan Aushadhi initiatives among healthcare professionals and students in Hyderabad, India

A. Naga Teja Pavani; Sailaxmi Venepally; Sindhuja Pulijalala

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263536

Authors

A. Naga Teja Pavani Department of Pharmacology, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, LB Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Sailaxmi Venepally Department of Pharmacology, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, LB Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Sindhuja Pulijalala Department of Pharmacology, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, LB Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263536

Keywords:

Branded medicines, Generic medicines, Jan Aushadhi, Rational drug use

Abstract

Background: Generic medicines are therapeutically equivalent to branded medicines and are promoted through government programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) to reduce the economic burden of healthcare. However, misconceptions and concerns regarding their efficacy and acceptance may limit their use. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers regarding generic medicines and Jan Aushadhi initiatives among healthcare professionals and students in Hyderabad, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 healthcare professionals and healthcare students in Hyderabad using a pre-validated structured questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers related to generic medicines and Jan Aushadhi initiatives.

Results: Participants demonstrated reasonable awareness of generic medicines and PMBJP; however, preference for branded medicines remained high among both healthcare professionals and patients. A major barrier was the perception that lower-cost medicines are less effective than branded medicines. Concerns regarding the availability and acceptance of generic medicines also contributed to their limited use.

Conclusions: Despite reasonable awareness, preference for branded medicines and misconceptions regarding the efficacy of lower-cost medicines remain important barriers to the wider use of generic medicines. Targeted educational and awareness programmes are needed to address misconceptions, improve confidence in generic medicines, and promote the rational use of cost-effective medicines.

References

World Health Organization. Guidance for organizations performing in vivo bioequivalence studies. WHO Technical Report Series, No. 966, Annex 9. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/annex-9-trs-966. Accessed on 16 July 2026.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2022. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers. Accessed on 16 July 2026.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Guidance for Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies. New Delhi: CDSCO. Available at: https://cdsco.gov.in/opencms/opencms/en/Acts-and-rules/Guidance-documents/. Accessed on 16 July 2026.

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). New Delhi: Government of India; 2023. Available at: https://pharma-dept.gov.in/schemes/pradhan-mantri-bhartiya-janaushadhi-pariyojana-pmbjp. Accessed on 16 July 2026.

Singal GL, Nanda A, Kotwani A. A comparative evaluation of price and quality of some branded versus branded-generic medicines of the same manufacturer in India. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011;43(2):131-6.

Mukherjee K. A cost analysis of the Jan Aushadhi scheme in India. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2017;6(5):253-6.

Tandel KR, Bhadiyadara SN, Zaiwala SM. Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practice of generic drugs among intern doctors at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2019;9(7):571-8.

Aivalli PK, Elias MA, Pati MK, Bhanuprakash S, Munegowda C, Shroff ZC, et al. Perceptions of the quality of generic medicines: implications for trust in public services within the local health system in Tumkur, India. BMJ Glob Health. 2018;2(3):e000644.

Chong CP, Hassali MA, Bahari MB, Shafie AA. Exploring community pharmacists' views on generic medicines: a nationwide study from Malaysia. Int J Clin Pharm. 2011;33(1):124-31.

Lavtepatil S, Ghosh S. Improving access to medicines by popularising generics: a study of “India's People's Medicine” scheme in two districts of Maharashtra. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22:643.

Chaturvedi A, Dubey AK, Naveen A. Perceived utility of Jan Aushadhi outlets and awareness of generic medicines at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: a cross-sectional study. Cureus. 2024;16:e57630.

Manasa CR, Kalpana L, Veena RM. Generic drugs: a study on awareness among medical students and interns. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2020;9(12):1877-82.

Bhattacharjee P, Das L, Ghosh R, Das UK, Chakraborty M. Knowledge, attitude and practice of generic medicines among doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Tripura, India. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6:1287-92.

Patil JR, Jaykare SC, Motghare VM, Padwal SL, Deshmukh VS. Awareness about generic drug prescription amongst practitioners: a knowledge attitude practice survey at rural set up. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2016;5(3):707-12.

Toverud EL, Hartmann K, Haakonsen H. A systematic review of physicians' and pharmacists' perspectives on generic drug use: what are the global challenges? Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2015;13:35-45.

Roy V, Rana P. Prescribing generics: all in a name. Indian J Med Res. 2018;147:442-4.

Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). New Delhi: Government of India; 2023. Available at: https://pharma-dept.gov.in/schemes/pradhan-mantri-bhartiya-janaushadhi-pariyojana-pmbjp. Accessed on 16 July 2026.

Singh B, Nanda A, Budhwar V, Marwaha RK. A comparative evaluation of the quality and price of generic medicine with their branded counterparts. Pharma Tutor. 2016;4:43-9.

Chaturvedi A, Dubey AK, Naveen A, et al. Perceived utility of Jan Aushadhi outlets and awareness of generic medicines at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: a cross-sectional study. Cureus. 2024;16:e57630.