ABSTRACT
Background: Health care related expenditure is increasing with a rapid pace in which much proportion of expenses is on medicines. The expenditure can be reduced by prescribing generic medicines (Janaushadi). In India less prescription of generic medicines can be correlated to less knowledge. Hence this study was carried out among Interns who will be future practitioners to know their perception and practice about generic medicines. Objectives: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and practice of Interns regarding generic medicines. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out among Interns using a pre-tested semi structured questionnaire containing questions related to their Knowledge, Attitude and their practice regarding generic medicines. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Among the study participants, majority (90%) knew the correct meaning of the generic medicine. 97% of them felt that generic medicines can be prescribed instead of branded medicines. Majority (92%) of the study subjects felt that there should be one Janaushadi (generic medicines) store at every government hospital. Not many (19%) were aware of the law in India for prescribing generic medicines but majority (87%) knew about the Janaushadi Scheme of Government of India. 87% of the Interns had prescribed generic medicines to patients and among them they (85%) felt that generic medicines are easy to prescribe than branded medicines. Conclusion: This study showed that the Interns have good perception regarding generic medicines. Minor proportion of the study participants knew about the law in India for prescribing generic medicines. Majority of the participants have prescribed generic medicines to patients and felt that it is easy to prescribe generic medicines.