Jan Aushadhi vs Generic Brands: What’s the Difference and Which to Choose?

India is the world’s largest producer of generic medicines and yet millions still struggle to access affordable and reliable healthcare. On one side, we have branded generics, priced high due to aggressive marketing. On the other, Jan Aushadhi medicines, promoted as affordable alternatives, but frequently questioned for their effectiveness and quality. Consumers are left confused, doctors are cautious, and trust in medicines is eroding. Reports of fake or substandard drugs, even from well-known manufacturers, highlight a deeper issue quality is not guaranteed by price or branding. Read this blog to find out where you can get tested medicines online at up to 80% less than market prices. 

What is Branded Generics Medicine? 

To understand branded generic medicine, one must first understand what a patent is. A patent is granted when a pharmaceutical company, after investing enormous years in research and development, invents something revolutionary. This patent lasts for 20 years meaning the company has exclusive rights to manufacture that medicine and earn profits to recover the investment it made in the research. Once that happens, other companies gain access to the formula and can start manufacturing the same medicine. When the exclusive right to manufacture is lost, the medicine becomes a generic medicine. Branded generics are these same generic medicines whose patents have expired. They are called branded because a marketing company gives them a brand name and promotes them heavily. The extra cost paid by consumers covers this marketing effort. That is why they are called branded medicines, but in reality, they are simply generics fancily termed branded generics. For example, a medicine with the salt name paracetamol may be sold under the brand name Cipol. 

What is PM Jan Aushadhi Medicines? 

This scheme was launched by Dr. Manmohan Singh and later promoted by Mr. Narendra Modi. These are generic medicines, offered as a less expensive version of branded generic medicines. These generic medicines are sold under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana, a program supported by the Government of India. For example, a branded medicine like Cipol will be sold simply as Paracetamol under this scheme. 

What is the Difference Between Branded Generics and Jan Aushadhi Medicines? 

Here are some key differences between Branded Generics and Jan Aushadhi Medicines

  1. Pricing: The primary difference lies in the price. Jan Aushadhi medicines are comparatively cheaper as they are sold under the scheme of PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana). 
  2. Marketing: Branded generics are heavily marketed. Pharmaceutical companies hire medical representatives who approach doctors and retail pharmacists to promote and increase the sale of their medicines, which is not the case with branded generics. 
  3. Availability: Branded generics are available in almost all online and retail pharmacies, whereas Jan Aushadhi medicines are available only in Jan Aushadhi Kendras. 
  4. Manufacturing: Branded medicines are mostly manufactured in their own facilities or outsourced to contract manufacturing units, whereas Janaushadhi medicines are supplied by big as well as small manufacturers companies. 
  5. Name: Branded generics are sold under a brand name created by the company, a name that is easy to remember and pronounce for doctors and consumers. In contrast, Jan Aushadhi medicines are sold under their actual generic names. 

Difference Between Branded Generics and Jan Aushadhi medicine 

  Features   Branded Generic   Jan Aushadhi 
  Name   A name decided by the     company e.g., Dolo   Actual generic name e.g., Paracetamol 
  Price   High   Very low 
  Availability   Available in almost every
  pharmacy 
  Available only in Jan Aushadhi Kendras 
  Manufacturer   Manufactured in the   company’s own unit or via  contract manufacturing   Medicines are procured from big and small manufacturers across the country   
  Marketing   Promoted through medical representatives, doctors, retail pharmacist and sometimes even    celebrities   No marketing 


Which is Better: Branded Generics or Jan Aushadhi Medicines? 

To be honest, neither generic brands nor Jan Aushadhi medicines are fully reliable. Every month, the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) releases an NSQ (Not of Standard Quality) report. Many suppliers of Jan Aushadhi frequently appear on the list, sometimes even under the Jan Aushadhi banner. What is more concerning is that these reports are based on batches manufactured a year or more ago, meaning thousands may have already consumed ineffective medicines. Even branded generics from major pharmaceutical companies like CIPLA have shown up in these reports. A report published by ASPA (Authentication Solution Providers Association) revealed that nearly 20% of medicines in India are fake or substandard. This is not a failure of CDSCO. The delay is caused by manufacturers, who often postpone submitting batches for testing. This lag has real consequences as19 children lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir after consuming spurious cough syrup, exposed only after the tragedy. So what is the point of buying any medicine, cheap or expensive if it cannot ensure safety or effectiveness?  

That is the question that economist Dhruv Mathur Gupta and Dr. Shivangi Singh set out to answer when they founded SayaCare. When Dhruv, worked at a Jan Aushadhi store he kept receiving complaints about ineffective medicines. With the help of Dr. Shivangi, they envisioned a platform that ensures both affordability and quality. They started testing every batch of medicine procured from manufacturers. Today, SayaCare is a fast-growing online pharmacy with over 1 lakh customers. How to order medicines from SayaCare? 

Upload your prescription, and a team of expert pharmacists will instantly transcribe it. Every medicine comes with a verified lab test report and medicines are sold at up to 80% less than market price. Buying from SayaCare is like buying hallmarked gold jewellery only at 80% less. 

Conclusion 

In a country where medicine quality can be a gamble, choosing between branded generics and Jan Aushadhi is no longer just about price it is about trust. Both options have cracks in the system: delayed testing, questionable batches, and lack of transparency. And when lives are at stake, cheap is not good enough, and branded has no guarantee. That is why SayaCare is not just another pharmacy, it is a new standard. Backed by lab-tested quality, affordable pricing, and a transparent supply chain, SayaCare proves that you don’t need to choose between cost and safety. Because in healthcare, compromise should not be an option. And with SayaCare, you don’t have to make one.