Abstract:

Generic drugs which have the same quality, safety and efficacy as their counterpart branded drugs. Generic medicines provide the same therapeutic outcomes as branded drugs at a much cheaper cost and so are promoted in many countries so as to avoid health care expenditure and sustain the health care system. Since patients are the final user of the medicines there is great need to inform and enhance the use of generic medicines to the patients.

The main objectives of performing this survey study were to determine patients’ awareness and acceptance of the drugs dispensed under generic names in community pharmacies.

A survey study was conducted for a period of one month to the patients/customers in the community pharmacies to determine their awareness and acceptance of drugs given under generic names. The patients were asked several questions found in the questionnaires regarding awareness and acceptance of generic drugs.

Patient awareness pertaining to generic medicines was found to be very low especially in people with low education level and the patients’ acceptance was seen to be high among the patients in community pharmacies.

There is high need for mass education and greater communication among patients and health worker since they were seen as major drivers for the acceptance of generic medicines among consumers/patients.