E-DRUG: drugs with the same trade name (4)
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The job of Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA)in India is
to clear medicines, not brands. One should keep in
mind that medicines can be sold either under generic
(chemical) names or brand names. In India, a very
large number of medicines are sold under chemical
names also such as ampicillin, paracetamol etc.
DRA keeps track of medicines based on approvals and
manufacturing licences granted.
The real problem lies in (a)voluntary nature of brand
registrations and (b)same/similar brands being allowed
even when the conbsumers are same.
Dr. Chandra M. Gulhati,
Editor, MIMS INDIA
e-mail: indianmims@yahoo.co.in
or seeemgee@yahoo.co.uk
[Sorry to be nagging, but in my view the brandname of a medicine is
important for public health (avoiding confusion etc). The trademark aspect
is merely commercial interest. Should a DRA not be more assertive and
control brandnames in the interest of the health of the people? I believe
all DRAs in Europe do so, also to avoid confusion with INN (generic) names!
After that I don't mind whether companies register it as a trademark or
not... WB]
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