Baramulla: Heavy discounts, selective prescription practices put question mark on efficacy of medicines

Kashmir Press Service

Baramulla, May 13: Alleged irregularities in drug pricing, prescription practices and the efficacy of medicines being sold in the markets here in North Kashmir have evoked concern from various quarters.

According to the details available with Kashmir Press Service, leading multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Glaxo, Cipla, Alembic, Glenmark, Macleods, Cadila, Abbott, IPCA, Pfizer, Dr. Reddy’s, Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Sanofi, and others usually offer retail margins between 18% and 22%, as per trade agreements with distributors and pharmacy retailers.

However, discrepancies are being observed at the consumer level, where several retailers are offering discounts ranging from 15% to even 20% on branded medicines. “This significant price slashing has raised serious questions about the integrity of the products being sold and whether these discounts are being covered through legitimate channels—or through grey market alternatives,” said a pharmaceutical distributor.
He said, “There are growing apprehensions that some retail pharmacies may be distributing spurious, substandard, or generic substitutes under the guise of well-known multinational brands.”

“The efficacy and safety of these medicines need to be tested as this could pose a grave risk to public health, especially when it comes to life-saving drugs,” he added.

“This is a very serious issue. People are unknowingly consuming medicines that may not be genuine, and that can be dangerous,” they said.

A prominent concern has been the questionable quality of commonly used medicines and baby products, such as Lactogen baby milk, which reportedly carries a much lower discount margin of 7%, compared to other products in the pharma stream.
Another senior pharmaceutical dealer said, “The issue is compounded by what appears to be selective prescription practices in both government hospitals and private clinics, where doctors are recommending medicines from specific companies available only at certain retail outlets.”
“This point towards a deeper nexus between pharmaceutical representatives, retail store owners, and some medical practitioners. This is no longer a matter of preference—it’s a business model being run at the cost of patient welfare,” he added.
He further alleged that the existence of an alleged ‘pharma mafia’ operating in Baramulla, where some pharmacies are acting as fronts for commercial profiteering. “Unchecked spread of these medical outlets, many of which are suspected of functioning without stringent regulatory oversight has added to the problems,” he said.
People associated with the pharmaceutical business urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive probe into the practices of retail pharmacies, monitor the drug supply chain, and ensure that medicines being sold meet approved standards of efficacy and safety.