India's well intended Jan Aushadhi scheme proving a challenge to branded generics firms

A piquant situation has emerged in India. The Indian government's generic medicine scheme is hurting the local pharmaceutical market, and is proving to be a major challenge for branded generic players.

The government's flagship access to generic medicines scheme, called the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, may be a boon for patients, but is stoking fears among Indian pharma, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Jan Aushadhi scheme, under which the government provides quality generic medicines at affordable rates, has led to savings worth $145 million for the average citizen, doubts are being raised about the long term after-effects on the domestic drug sector.