Author: Erma Marinda

Generic Medicines – Saving Millions of Indians from Medical Poverty

Generic Medicines – Saving Millions of Indians from Medical Poverty

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In April 2017, the Medical Council of India made it mandatory for physicians, healthcare providers to prescribe and dispense drugs carrying generic names. The move to replace branded medicines with generic substitutes was deemed necessary by Indian health authorities, in lowering the overall out-of-pocket expenses incurred by households for basic healthcare needs.

The implementation of mandatory prescription of generic medicines somehow alleviated the distrust of households over the quality of generic medications. Generally, Hindustan households perceived the generic brands as poor quality imitations of the proprietary medicines produced by pharmaceutical companies.

A study performed by the Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics revealed that 92% of India’s adult population know of generic drugs, of which 92.70% comprehend the distinctions that set apart the branded from the generic medicines. However about 47.8% of those who know what generic brands are, prefer to believe in proprietary pharma-branded drugs.

Yet a survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2014, revealed that of the majority of Indian households, 82% in urban areas and 86% in rural locations have no support to alleviate their health expenditures.

Government studies showed that lowering the cost of medicines will prevent several households from going into medical poverty. Although many practicing physicians in India were not confident in the efficacy of generic drugs, 62% of healthcare providers in the country supported the mandatory implementation of generic drug prescriptions in all sectors across India. Those who do not comply with the mandate stand to lose their license as medical practitioners.

Understanding the Real Nature of Generic Medicines

Generic drugs started out as proprietary medicines that earned the manufacturers a patent to name the medicine by a specific brand. However, after a period of ten years, the patent held by the pharma company expires. Unless the patent is renewed, the pharma company cannot market the medicine using the patented brand.

An expired patent affects only the right to use the brand name but not the exclusive right to manufacture, distribute and sell the medicine under a generic name; usually using a name based on its salt component.

The FDA allows the sale of the generic brand as long as it’s sold for a lower cost and has different color, size and packaging. What is important is that the generic and the original brand are bio-equivalent; having the same formulation and using the same ingredients whilst using the same manufacturing method in their productions. That is why generic drugs must be available in the same dosages as the original branded medicine. .

Regulation of Generic Drug Distribution and Sale via the PCD Franchise System

Inasmuch as India is a leading manufacturer and supplier of generic medicines in the global pharmaceutical market, the government ensures that the sale of generic drugs in the local market will be maintained at the lowest possible cost.

Through a system called Propaganda Cum Distribution (PCD) system, operators of generic drug stores can buy generic medicines at low prices by using the services of PCD pharma franchise companies. Moreover, generic drugstore operators who hold PCD franchise agreements with a PCD franchise company will have a monopoly in the sale of specific generic medicines included in the franchise agreement and in a particular geographical location.

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American Children Have Poor Cardiovascular Fitness Due to Lack of Physical Activities

American Children Have Poor Cardiovascular Fitness Due to Lack of Physical Activities

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A 2020 report published by the American Heart Association revealed that almost sixty percent of American children have poor Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). CRF is actually a measure that indicates the overall strength of the heart, blood circulation and lungs in children. The report also stated that a major contributor to the low CRF in children is the lack or fewer engagement in physical activities. While the past two years were not ideal for children to be active in physical games or sports, fitness experts recommend that even if children have no other choice but to stay home, they should at least get into the habit of stretching their body.

 

In contrast, related studies about children with healthy CRF indicated that they have better academic achievements because they have clearer thinking, have a higher sense of self-esteem and satisfaction, as well as stronger mental health. However, the current low CRF has been observed not only in American youth but globally, ever since it went on a downward trend in the 1980s.

Now more than ever, children in well-off countries are more sedentary than the children of previous generations, in line with the advent of the Internet of things, and mobile gaming. Prior to the COVID-19 studies children already preferred using their smartphones and electronic gadgets for entertainment and recreation.
In recent meta analysis, it was revealed that low CRFs are more prevalent in younger children than in teens, who more or less have been channelling their physical activities through dancing.
Nowadays, parents are encouraged to include their children in stretching regimen to help their kids grow up living a healthier life.

Stretching Exercises for Children to Improve Their Muscle Strength and Flexibility

Stretching are lighter forms of exercises as they are often used as preparatory activities for more strenuous exercises. The goal is to loosen up the joints and muscles, which may have tightened due to long hours of being asleep in bed or of sitting in front of a gaming console.

The actions you take to stretch your body might not be appropriate for a kid because your body has different levels of muscle strength and even muscle weakness. Moreover, stretching helps improve blood circulation, which reduces the stress on joints and muscles.

Recommended Stretching Exercises for Kids

The following are stretching activities that kids might not be able to perform instantly with great accuracy. Through constant practice, they will experience improvements and greater ease in achieving flexibility.

A toe touch stretch taken from a standing position that will have a child bend over to reach his or her toes.

Neck half circle stretches that start with touching This stretch for children starts by making the right ear touch the right shoulder then roll their head chin to chest to perform the left ear-left shoulder stretch.

Shoulder circles are performed by simultaneously shrugging and rotating shoulders forward at first and downwards on the next rounds.

Arm circle stretches will have children extending thei arms on both sides and parallel to their shoulders. Using their hands, the children will draw circles starting with small ones that later grow into large circles.

Side bend stretches starts with standing up straight with arms placed outside each thigh. The child will them move one hand toward the outside of the knee by bending sidewards, which he or she might bit be able to do successfully at first. Continue doing the stretching exercise alternately on the left side.

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