Poll fever cure: Ragaflam, Namo tablets fly off pharmacy shelves

NEW DELHI: As election fever grips the country, Namo and Ragaflam tablets, named after BJP's Narendra Modi and Congress's Rahul Gandhi, are crowding pharmacy shelves. Neither Modi nor Rahul may have all the answers to what ails the nation, but generic drugs named after them are certainly getting people's votes.

While Namo tablets are a composition of nimuslide and paracetamol that treat fever and headache, Ragaflam with its mix of dicoflenac and paracetamol gives quick relief from pain. A pharmaceutical executive said 20 lakh Namo and Raga tablets have been distributed in the last few weeks and there is a growing demand for these from drugstores.

Incidentally, Namo tablets at Rs 36 per strip are six rupees cheaper than Alkem's Sumo tablets, which may also partly explain the spurt in sales.

"This is the first time we've tried to sell our medicines named after two leading politicians, trying to use their brand value. And the move's paid off," said Gurgaon-based ICI Healthcare's director Naveen Jain.

Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Assam are some of the states where Namo tablets and Ragaflam are selling well.

In fact, Modi even has a pain relieving panacea named after him: Namonigel. Those pounding pavements in the course of party propaganda may find it useful.

With the launch of these medicines, perhaps both Modi and Rahul may rightfully claim to have the potion to address the country's ills? But if popularity of politicians were to be the yardstick for nomenclature of drugs, what next? Will Didi Digene cure indigestion and Lalu syrup be of some relief from cold and cough?

(Courtesy: Navbharat Times)