**Public Outcry over Ineffective Generic Drugs Sparks Chinese Government Response**

In China, growing public dissatisfaction over the effectiveness of generic drugs has raised alarm bells among health authorities and citizens alike. Doctors express that the current procurement policies prioritize cost-cutting over patient safety, while officials dismiss these worries as largely subjective.

Public sentiment in China has turned sharply against generic drugs, attributed to rising concerns over their efficacy and safety. Physicians are voicing unease over the procurement system that favors cheaper generics, which they claim compromises patient care. Following a viral interview by Shanghai doctor Zheng Minhua, who reported troubling incidents related to generic antibiotics and laxatives, public discourse on social media platforms erupted with personal accounts of ineffective medications.

Despite officials claiming the effectiveness of these drugs is perceived differently by individuals, public fear remains widespread, especially within an already stressed healthcare system grappling with an ageing demographic. Many now prefer purchasing brand-name medications over generics, reflecting a broken trust in the healthcare infrastructure.

The controversy's root lies in a 2018 drug procurement policy designed to lower costs for state-run hospitals, favoring domestic generic production. While advocates for generics argue they have saved billions in healthcare costs, critics highlight troubling price points that raise questions about quality assurance. Some generics are so inexpensive that consumers openly worry about their safety.

A group of doctors recently submitted concerns regarding the implications of low procurement prices leading to substandard drug quality. Calls for stricter evaluation of drug approval processes amplify discourse around the growing trust crisis within communities.

Simultaneously, China’s healthcare system faces extreme pressure due to soaring expenditures tied to a rapidly ageing population. This fiscal strain undermines public medical insurance funds, contributing to widespread dissatisfaction that culminates in outcries for immediate state intervention and reform to the drug procurement process.

As authorities begin to acknowledge these safety concerns, experts argue for a critical reevaluation of procurement practices to restore public faith in generic drugs—seeking a balance between cost-efficiency and patient safety is crucial in safeguarding China's healthcare future.