Branded or generic: what changes and what does not
Same active ingredient, different price. What a generic medicine is, and why we never switch without asking.
How to read your pharmacy bill
Batch number, expiry, MRP, discount and GST: what each column on our printed bill means and why it matters.
Every bill from Oshudh Ghar, at the counter or with a delivery, lists the same details for every item. It can look like a lot of small print, but each column is there for a reason.
The first columns are the name of the medicine, its strength and the pack size, for example a strip of 10 or a bottle of 100 ml. Then comes the manufacturer, which helps if you ever need to compare with a previous purchase. The batch number is the code the manufacturer gives to one production run. If there is ever a recall or a quality notice, it is the batch number that tells you whether your strip is affected, so it is worth keeping bills for medicines you take regularly.
The expiry date shows the month and year until which the medicine should be used if stored as directed. We do not dispatch any medicine with less than three months to expiry without telling you on the call first. If you buy a three-month supply, look for an expiry well beyond that.
Next come the MRP, the maximum retail price printed on the pack, the quantity and our discount, if any. GST is included in the MRP, and the bill shows the amount for your records. At the bottom is the total and the pharmacist’s initials. If you claim medical expenses from an employer or an insurer, this bill, with the prescription, is usually what they ask for. You can ask us to email a copy, or reprint any bill from the past two years at the counter.
