New Delhi: To reduce the burden of branded medicines on the consumers, the central government has recently launched an app named ‘Pharma Sahi Daam’. This app is easily available on playstore to download on both Android and iOS. It has been created by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to suggest consumers alternatives of cheaper but similar properties of branded drugs.
(Also read: Google Bug Bounty Program: Get Rs 25 Lakh, All You Have To Do,
If your doctor prescribes a branded medicine for your disease, then you can go to the app and type the name of the medicine. The app will then show you affordable alternatives to branded medicines that you can take. They may have different names but have medicinal properties.
(Also read: iPhone 14 Pro model likely to come with new ultra-wide camera,
For example, Augmentin is one of the best selling antibiotics in India. The price of this branded medicine is around Rs 200 for 10 tablets. However, on the app you will find at least 10 expensive options that offer the same medicine for Rs 50 for 6 tablets.
Similarly, Pan D, which uses against acidity, costs around Rs 199 for 15 capsules. But its substitute will cost Rs 22 for 10 capsules.
In India, the cost of medicines depends on supply and demand like other items like toothpaste or soap. However, the government controls more than 33% of the drugs in India. The government has made a list of essential medicines and kept their price under control.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixes the price of medicines that come under the National List of Essential Medicines in India. The prices of 355 drugs and their 882 formulations in India have been fixed under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO).