Prelims – 24th Nov 23

Generic Drug

It is a medication that has exactly the same active ingredient as the brandname drug and yields the same therapeutic effect.
It is the same in dosing, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken, and the way it should be used.
These similarities help to demonstrate bioequivalence, which means that a generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as the brand-name medicine.
They also have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts.
Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand-name product.
A generic drug can only be marketed after the brand name drug’s patent has expired.
Generic drugs are usually much less expensive than brand-name drugs.
India is the largest producer of generic drugs globally and is known for affordable vaccines and generic medications.

Steps taken to promote Generic Drugs

PM Bharitya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers); Janaushadhi Sugam App.
Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters.

World Health Organization launched a global network to help swiftly detect the threat from infectious diseases, like COVID-19.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) will provide a platform for connecting countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analysing samples.
The network aims to help ensure infectious disease threats are swiftly identified and tracked while the information is shared and acted on to prevent catastrophes like the Coronavirus pandemic.
The network will rely on pathogen genomics to analyse the genetic code of viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.

World Health Organization (WHO) issued new guidelines advising against the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) like aspartame, saccharin, stevia and other derivatives as a “healthy” alternative to sugar
WHO says non-sugar sweeteners should not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases. The spotlight on NSS intensified after 2015, when the WHO had said that high intake of free sugars is linked to weight gain and obesity, leading consumers to turn to NSS as an alternative
Non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) are marketed as low or no-calorie alternatives to free sugars which aid in weight loss, and in controlling blood glucose in individuals with diabetes
NSS categories studied by WHO include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives. • Aspartame is popularly used to sweeten diet colas that claim to have ‘no sugar, no calories.