Expensive medicines

Imagine choosing between two cups of chai – one from a trusted brand like Chaayos, and another from a local vendor offering the same taste at half the price. Tempting, right? But also risky? That’s exactly the kind of decision patients and doctors face with generic medicines in India. In this blog, I spoke to five doctors – from both government and private hospitals – and even had a quirky chat with a local quack (yes, our very own Bengali Babu) to uncover the real story behind branded vs. generic prescriptions. Plus, a look at how SayaCare is flipping the script on medicine access and trust.

Real medicine

When Laxman was injured during the battle against Ravana, Lord Rama was informed that the Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas could cure him. Lord Hanuman could not find the herb, so after fighting off Kalanemi, who had been sent by Ravana, he famously brought the whole mountain. Had Ravana changed his strategy and planted a poisonous/do-nothing look-alike herb in a visible place, then Hanuman and Laxman would be no different from the millions of Indians today who purchase/consume fake/substandard/adulterated medication.