The All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) has appealed to the Union Health Minister to amend Schedule ‘H’ of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, to allow Janaushadhi Kendras to dispense generic substitutes for branded prescription drugs. This proposal, backed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), aims to provide affordable, quality medications to the public.
Despite opposition from the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), which argues that such a move might lower drug quality standards, AIDAN emphasizes that many well-known brands have also failed quality checks. Legal backing for generic substitution at Janaushadhi Kendras could debunk the myth that only branded drugs are of high quality, ensuring better healthcare access and cost-efficiency for patients.