KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES OF PHARMACISTS REGARDING UTILISATION OF GENERIC MEDICINES IN JAIPUR

Objective: Government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) under the Ayushman Bharat scheme have sought to expand access to healthcare, including the promotion of generics. Pharmacists, as primary intermediaries between manufacturers and consumers, play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and promoting the uptake of generic medicines. This study aims to investigate pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the utilisation of generic medicines in Jaipur. Methodology:  A sample of 100 pharmacists was studied in Jaipur city. Descriptive analysis was performed using mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage for data representation. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests assessed the significance of categorical variables, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The data show high awareness of generic medicines among medical professionals, with knowledge increasing with age and experience. Older professionals (above 45) and those with over 20 years of experience have significantly higher knowledge scores. Attitudes toward generics are generally positive, though younger professionals and those with less experience show slightly less favourable views. About 60% dispense fewer than 25% generics, revealing a gap between knowledge and practice. Professionals with 6–20 years of experience demonstrate better practices in encouraging and substituting generics. Conclusions: Despite strong support, concerns about quality, counterfeit medicines, and socio-economic factors influence substitution practices. Efforts to standardize guidelines and build confidence, especially among younger professionals, are needed to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.