European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DRUG PRESCRIBING PATTERN AND COST ANALYSIS ON ANTIDIABETICS (GENERIC VS. BRANDED) IN A COMMUNITY CARE SETTING

Sriram A.* and Dhanapal C. K.

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is the most common disorder in all over world which causes co morbid complications and it leads to increase in mortality rate. Community pharmacy is very much close to the public and they easily mingle with patients when compare to other health care professionals. This article emphasis that the cost analysis plays an important role in disease management for chronic patients, Owing to their low price and comparable quality, generic medicines are used to enhance drug prescription efficiency and thus decrease expenditure. To study the drug selling pattern among antidiabetics involved in community care setting. To study the cost analysis & most selling rate of antidiabetics (generic vs. branded) in a community sector. Among that we found for antidiabetics Metformin (91%) is selling more than any other antidiabetics followed by Glimepiride(88%), Glibenclamide (85%), Voglibose (80%), sitagliptin (75) were said to be more sales on branded drugs when compared with generic drugs. The cost of branded medicines may be so differ from generics. For combination drugs also branded plays an important role in sales and usage than generics. The intervention of community pharmacists serves as an important role in disease management and care the society. Based on this study we conclude peoples are not getting awareness about generic medicines, even they are not willing to change their brands. Generic drugs are almost similar as branded medicines by cost, efficacy, benefits etc. And finally we suggest Community pharmacists should promote the generic medicines and create the awareness about generic drugs to the society.

Keywords: Cost, Generic, Branded, Antidiabetics, Community pharmacists.