A recent study from Ohio State University linking Indian-made generic drugs to a 54% higher risk of causing severe medical issues is causing a ruckus in social media. By raising concerns regarding the validity and trustworthiness of the study, Indian netizens expressed their displeasure with the study.
The new study found generic medicines manufactured in India to cause severe health problems among the public. It linked Indian-made generic drugs to a 54% higher rate of severe adverse events, including hospitalizations and deaths, compared to the equivalent drugs made in the United States.
The study involved researchers matching drugs to their specific manufacturing plants, information strictly confidential to the FDA. The findings were largely based on 'mature generic drugs', the ones that had been on the market for a long time. The researchers compared the frequency of adverse events reported for generic drugs manufactured in India with those reported for the equivalent generic drugs produced in the US. It was revealed that a shocking 54% higher risk was associated with Indian-made generic compared to the US equivalents. The adverse complications compared included hospitalization, disability, and in a few cases, death.
The research caught the attention of the internet as Indian netizens decided to take to X to share their strong opinions of such ‘differentiation'. Several individuals reacted to this 'differentiation' raising concerns about the study's validity and the need for stricter oversight on foreign pharmaceuticals. Moreover, some critics lashed out at the FDA quoting how they need to improve their certification procedures and ensure the quality of the medicines circulated among the public. “Is this done by a survey or have they proved that the Indian medicine is the reason for all the said medical problems?", a netizen penned through the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The study has caused a ruckus on the internet, with many supporting the claims and criticizing India for their inadequacy. Several hate comments were made against India with even someone taking the time to write something as absurd as "India should be banned by the world."
The authors pointed out that all generic drugs are not equal, even though patients are often informed that they are. The authors of the study emphasized that regulations regarding drug formulation and clinical trials differ between developed nations like the U.S. and emerging economies like India.
Reference:
1. Noh, I. J., et al. (2025). EXPRESS: Are All Generic Drugs Created Equal? An Empirical Analysis of Generic Drug Manufacturing Location and Serious Drug Adverse Events. Production and Operations Management. doi.org/10.1177/10591478251319691.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)
