Lok Sabha Question No. 2277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Promoting Generic Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †2277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY 2018

## Promoting Generic Medicines

## †2277. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any scheme/proposal to set up Jan Aushadhi Kendras in all medical colleges, district hospitals and all private hospitals to promote the use of generic medicines in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Indian  Medical  Association  and  the  Medical  Council  of  India  have  been consulted for the purpose of promoting the use of generic medicines in the country; and
- (d) if so, the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY  OF  SHIPPING  AND  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) & (b) Yes Madam. A countrywide scheme namely 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana'  (PMBJP)  was launched  by the Government in the  year 2008 under  which  quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all through specific outlets, called PMBJP Kendras. Under PMBJP, an one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakhs is provided to open PMBJP Kendra in any Government Hospital/Medical College or in any Government owned building premises. A provision of providing incentives upto Rs. 2.5 lakhs at the rate of 15% of monthly sales subject to a ceiling of Rs. 10,000/- per month is also available for PMBJP Kendras run  by  NGOs,  Charitable  Institutions/Hospitals,  Private  Hospitals,  Trusts,  Societies,  Self  Help Groups and Individual Entrepreneurs.
- (c) & (d) The Government is taking various steps to promote the use of generic medicines in the  country.  Directions  were  issued  to  doctors  for  prescribing  low-cost  generic  drugs  to  the patients. The details are as follows:
- (i)  Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide their Circular dated 08.04.2015 has directed all the specialists/doctors working in CGHS to ensure that generic drugs are prescribed to the maximum extent possible with a view to make medical treatment cost effective and affordable.
- (ii)  The  Medical  Council  of  India  has  amended  the  Indian  Medical  Council  (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 on 08.10.2016 to provide a new para 1.5 : 'Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.'
- (iii) Director, CGHS has vide Office Memorandum dated 08.09.2017, issued instructions to all  CGHS  Wellness  Centres  to  ensure  that  prescription  is  only  by  generic  name wherever generic drugs are available.
- In order to make generic medicines more accessible, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has  requested  all  the  States/Union  Territories  to  explore  and  enforce  the  proposal  of keeping a separate shelf/rack for generic medicines in every pharmacy in the country.

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