Imagine choosing between two cups of chai – one from a trusted brand like Chaayos, and another from a local vendor promising the same taste at half the price. You wonder: is the cheaper one just as good, or are you risking a bitter sip? That’s the dilemma doctors and patients face with generic medicines in India. From trust issues to profit margins, the world of generics is a brewing debate-some see them as a lifesaver, others as a gamble.  

To dig deeper I interviewed five doctors from government and private hospitals and even chatted with quack (Bengali babu). In this blog, we’ll dive into why doctors prescribe Branded Medicine, and how SayaCare is changing the game! 

What Is Generic Medicine, and How Much Faith Do Doctors Have in It? 

When a company’s exclusive right to make a medicine ends, it becomes a generic drug, open to all manufacturers – like a recipe anyone can brew. Some companies hire Medical Representatives or Salesmen to convince doctors to prescribe their medicine (brands like Dolo), while others go directly patients (generics like SayaCare). 

With generics widely available and prescribing rules somewhat flexible, doctors hold mixed views on their quality.  

“We prescribe, but what patients take is beyond our control” -Dr. Sangrinath from Safdarjung.  

“I believed in generics during college, but that trust faded when fake ones slipped into our government hospital. Patients used them for a month until a government report intervened. No deaths, but it was upsetting,” -Dr. Ashtbhuja from Karnataka.  

Yet, retired Dr. M.S. Snehal counters, “The idea that generics lack quality is old, from the unregulated ‘80s and ‘90s. Now, they rival branded drugs.”  

Ever heard of the 2023 mandate on prescribing generic medicines, especially when they’re just as effective as branded ones? That brings us to the rules around generics… 

Is the Rule to Prescribe Generic Medicine Really in Effect?

The debate around generics isn’t just about trust-it’s also about rules. In 2023, when the government mandated prescribing generic medicines, doctors nationwide protested, arguing it handed too much control to pharmacists. Within a week, the rule was overturned. So, do doctors still prescribe generics? 

 In government hospitals, it’s a must.  

“We use salt names because audits check our prescriptions-skip them, and we risk penalties,” – Dr. Sangrinath from Safdarjung.  

“We’re told to prescribe only what’s available in-house” – retired Dr. M.S. Snehal. 

 
Audits are mostly a metro-city thing, while in rural areas, things work a bit differently – doctors there usually have to stick to whatever the hospital pharmacy has in stock, with less oversight to push for generics.

We dug into the prescriptions submitted to SayaCare, looking at data from 2023 to early 2025, shown in a stacked area chart.  The numbers tell a clear story: only about 20% of prescriptions use the generic name-or the “salt”-and that hasn’t changed much over the past two years. Most doctors still go for branded names or a mix of both, showing they often prefer the familiar, pricier chai over the affordable local blend. So, why do doctors keep choosing branded options?

“It’s simple-they earn a hefty commission” -retired Dr. M.S. Snehal.  

Dr. Ashtbhuja from Karnataka adds, “Yes, we often prescribe branded medicines, but it’s about prioritizing patient health. The commission we get is small, and doctors can easily offset it by raising consultation fees.”

The numbers and insights paint a picture of practical choices, but they also spark questions about balancing profit and patient care. 

Would the Rule Hand Power to Pharmacists? 

This brings us to another layer: who really decides what you get? Here’s the thing: the doctors I interviewed had no idea that the government scrapped prescribing generic medicines. I’m surprised no one knew, yet everyone’s quick to point fingers at pharmacists.  

“I once asked a pharmacy for a medicine by its salt name, and they insisted I give the brand name because they didn’t know the salt,” – Dr. Sangrinath, Safdarjung.  

“After we’ve written the prescription, our part’s over-it’s the pharmacist’s turn. They often nudge patients toward branded medicines since those bring in bigger profits” -retired Dr. M.S. Snehal.  

For my blog on the supply chain, I interviewed some pharmacists and learned they actually earn more profit by selling generic medicines – quite a surprise, since this clearly isn’t what doctors expect when they assume pharmacists only dish out branded medicines. It’s like a roadside chaiwala quietly slipping you the cheaper tea because it boosts his earnings, while doctors think he’s only serving the fancy branded stuff they’re used to.

What about the Quacks?

I interviewed a Bengali doctor (a self-proclaimed healer with no medical degree), who proudly calls himself a doctor despite his shaky grasp on the subject. With barely a clue about medicine names, let alone the difference between branded and generic options, he prescribes whatever’s sitting on his pharmacy shelves, driven more by what fills his pocket than what heals his patients.

He admitted Medical Representatives (MRs) often drop by his clinic, likely shaping his limited knowledge after 13 years of practice-which, to be fair, isn’t a small feat! Still, it’s clear his focus is on profit, not quality, making him someone you’d hesitate to trust. 

With an estimated 1.5 Million to 2.5 Million quacks across the country (far more than the registered number of doctors), many Marketing Companies pay attention to their *fraudulent* prescribing practices.  

How Does SayaCare Make a Difference? 

“I’ve seen hospital staff push patients to buy from their pharmacies, sometimes even supplying fake medicines-it’s a widespread issue” – retired Dr. M.S. Snehal.  

Doctors often worry about what happens after they prescribe generics – they can’t be sure what pharmacists actually provide. Even if a pharmacist hands over a big pharma generic with the best intentions, there’s still a lingering doubt about its quality.

For the average Indian, it’s overwhelming-almost impossible-to ensure everyone in the healthcare chain, from doctors to pharmacists, hospitals, distributors, and manufacturers, is truly honest and gives you the right medicine. 

That’s where SayaCare steps in to ease your mind. We ensure every medicine you receive is carefully lab-tested for potency and efficacy, giving you and your doctor peace of mind that it’s safe and reliable—like savoring a tested local chai that costs half the price but delivers all the delicious swad, every time.