The National Medical Commission has issued new regulations which will penalise doctors for not prescribing generic drugs.
Doctors are already required to only prescribe generic drugs, but this is the first time penal provisions have been introduced.
In its ‘Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners” the NMC has also asked doctors to avoid prescribing branded generic drugs.
Definition
“Generic medicines are 30 to 80 percent cheaper than branded drugs. Hence, prescribing generic medicines may overtly bring down healthcare costs and improve access to quality care,” it said.
It has defined generic medicines as a “drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed product in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use”.
Distinction
A branded generic drug is one which has come off patent and is manufactured by drug companies and sold under different companies’ brand names.
They may be less costly than the branded patent version but costlier than the bulk-manufactured generic version of the drug.
“Every RMP (registered medical practitioner) should prescribe drugs using generic names written legibly and prescribe drugs rationally, avoiding unnecessary medications and irrational fixed-dose combination tablets,” the regulation stated.
Penalties
In case of violations, a doctor may be given a warning or instructed to attend a workshop or academic programme on ethics, personal and social relations and/or professional training.
On repeated violations, their license to practice may be suspended for a particular period.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions should be legible and preferably written in all caps to avoid misinterpretation.
As far as possible, they should be typed and printed to avoid errors
Promote generic medicines
Doctors should prescribe only those generic medicines available in the market and accessible to patients.
Patients should be encouraged to procure drugs from Jan Aushadhi Kendras and other generic pharmacy outlets.
Doctors should educate their students and the public about the equivalence of generic medicine with their branded counterparts and should actively participate in programs related to promotion and access to generic medicines, the NMC added.
No endorsements
The regulations have barred doctors from endorsing any drug brands, medicine and equipment.
They will not be allowed to accept gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or access to recreation from pharma companies or their representatives, commercial healthcare establishments and medical device firms under any pretext.
