Lok Sabha Question No. 217 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: Generic Medicines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: George Baker, Richard Hay

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 217 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH MARCH, 2018

## GENERIC MEDICINES

## *217.SHRI GEORGE BAKER: PROF. RICHARD HAY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of generic medical stores available/opened across the country to provide generic medicines, State/UT - wise including West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra;
- (b)  wheth er  there  is  any  gap  between the  commonly  used  medicines  and  their availability as generic medicines in the medical stores, if so, the details thereo along with the list of such commonly used medicines and their availability in the medical stores and the r easons therefor along with the action taken/being taken by theGovernment in this regard;
- (c) whether there is any shortage of most prescribed generic drugs at the outlets opened  specially  at  Government  Hospitals acro s  the  country  including  West Bengal, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  issued guidelines  to  the  hospitals/doctors  to prescribe the generic drugs to the patients and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has received  any complaint  regarding  violation of these guidelines from any of the States, if so, the details thereof and the actio takenby the Government thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY )

(a) to(e) :

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 217* FOR 9 TH MARCH, 2018

(a) to (c):- As on 05.03.2018, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), 3214 Kendras have been opened in 33 States/Union Territories of  the  Country  and  are  functional  in  order  to  make  available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all. A State/UT-wise list of  3214  functional  PMBJP  Kendras,  including  in  West  Bengal,  Gujarat, Kerala and Maharastra, is annexed . Under 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Priyojna' (PMBJP), the product basket of the scheme now covers more than 700 medicines and 154 surgicals & consumables covering all major therapeutic groups such as  Analgesics,  Antipyretics,  Anti-allergies,  Anti-infectives,  Anti-diabetic, Cardiovasculars, Anti-cancers, Gastro-intestinal medicines, Diuretics, etc. 666 medicines and 81 surgicals are available  for  supply  under  Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Priyojna. There are no reports of  any  gap  between  commonly  used medicines and their availability in the medical stores of the Government. There is no report indicating shortage of most prescribed generic drugs at the outlets opened at Central Government Hospitals in Delhi. (d): Medical Council of India (MCI) has notified an amendment in Clause

…

1.5 of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, which stipulates that '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'. Medical Council of India, vide its Circulars dated 21.04.2017, 22.11.2012 and 18.01.2013, has reiterated that all physicians  should  prescribe  drugs  with  Generic  names.  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.

(e):  The  MCI  or  the  appropriate  State  Medical  Councils  have  been empowered to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provisions  of  the  aforesaid  Regulations.  As  and  when  complaints  are received against the violation of these, such complaints are referred by MCI to the concerned State Medical Councils where the doctors/medical practitioners are registered for appropriate action.

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## Annexure-I

|   S.No. | State/Union Territory   |   Number of functional PMBJP Kendras |
|---------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|       1 | Punjab                  |                                   76 |
|       2 | Delhi                   |                                   41 |
|       3 | Haryana                 |                                   69 |
|       4 | Uttar Pradesh           |                                  501 |
|       5 | Uttarakhand             |                                   97 |
|       6 | Madhya Pradesh          |                                   68 |
|       7 | Tripura                 |                                   24 |
|       8 | Mizoram                 |                                    8 |
|       9 | Andhra Pradesh          |                                  132 |
|      10 | Gujarat                 |                                  280 |
|      11 | Karnataka               |                                  272 |
|      12 | Rajasthan               |                                   89 |
|      13 | Maharashtra             |                                  215 |
|      14 | Odisha                  |                                   72 |
|      15 | Chandigarh              |                                    5 |
|      16 | Jammu & Kashmir         |                                   33 |
|      17 | Himachal Pradesh        |                                   28 |
|      18 | Jharkhand               |                                   46 |
|      19 | Bihar                   |                                   95 |
|      20 | Kerala                  |                                  323 |
|      21 | Chattisgarh             |                                  195 |
|      22 | Arunachal Pradesh       |                                   24 |
|      23 | Telangana               |                                   77 |
|      24 | Tamil Nadu              |                                  274 |
|      25 | Assam                   |                                   51 |
|      26 | West Bengal             |                                   47 |
|      27 | Nagaland                |                                   11 |
|      28 | Manipur                 |                                   36 |
|      29 | Dadar & Nagar Haveli    |                                    7 |
|      30 | Puducherry              |                                   11 |