Inhaler sales remain cold

Number of respiratory patients continues to rise

Every second patient going to a doctor suffers from a respiratory disease, but inhaler sales have not seen a corresponding jump this winter. This is being attributed to misconceptions surrounding the usage of inhalers.

Cipla, India’s largest player in the respiratory space, told Business Standard it has not seen any extraordinary growth in inhaler sales for major cities during the October-December period in the past three years.

“The period from October to December (winter season) always sees the highest number of patients visiting the doctor due to respiratory disease. However, at Cipla, we have seen these (inhaler sales) numbers have been consistent for the past three years (up to 2015),” said a company spokesperson.

According to Dr Randeep Guleria, head pulmonary medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the non-acceptance of inhalers due to various misconceptions —   that it can only be used as a last resort; it is addictive; societal stigma while using it in public, etc — has resulted in a dramatic growth in the oral medications, instead of inhalers.

All Indian Origin Chemists & Distributors data put the respiratory sector growth at 18 per cent in the last quarter. “In treating respiratory diseases, there are two significant barriers which still need to be overcome — disease and therapy denial. It is an area riddled with myths and misconceptions,” added the Cipla spokesperson.

HEALTH CONCERNS

• According to one latest study, every second patient visiting doctor in India shows respiratory symptoms
• Cipla, the largest player in the respiratory space, sees no major jump in inhaler sales this winter
• Patients willing to ingest oral medications — even with its side effects — than use inhalers due to various misconceptions
• Inhalers are considered as a last resort; social stigma persists as patients refrain from using it in public
• Respiratory sector has seen 18 per cent growth last quarter; dramatic growth seen only in oral medications

However, Lupin observed a ‘strong’ growth in the segment during October-December 2015, compared to the previous quarter. “Our sales for inhalers have increased by 12-15 per cent in cities such as Patna, Delhi and Chennai, but only 6-7 per cent in Bengaluru and Kolkata,” said Shakti Chakraborty, group president (India), Lupin Limited.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories and GSK India declined to comment, saying they were marginal players in the respiratory sector. Zydus Cadila, too, did not respond to Business Standard’s queries.

“Even as most patients have a larger acceptance of oral medications, it must be understood that they are not a substitute for inhalers. They have their side effects. For example, in bronchodilators - when drugs are taken orally - one side effect is it increases the heart rate and tremors in hands, etc,” said Guleria. “Removing the misconceptions is important as people should know inhalers are non-addictive, have a faster reaction, are safer, and should be used early rather than late.”

According to a latest study, which included the responses of 7,400 Indian medical practitioners — published in The Lancet in December 2015 — every second patient in India visiting the doctor has shown respiratory symptoms.

The study identified respiratory symptoms as the main cause of visits to doctor, followed by digestive, circulatory, skin, and endocrine symptoms.