Lok Sabha Question No. 222 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: WHO Guidelines on Medical Prescriptions
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mahendrabhai Kalubhai Munjpara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 222 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH MARCH, 2020 WHO GUIDELINES ON ME DICAL PRESCRIPTIONS

## *222. DR. MUNJPARA MAHENDRABHAI KALUBHAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage doctors to follow the  prescription  writing practices  as  per  the  'World  Health  Organization Guidelines on Good Prescr ibing';
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken to prevent/mitigate the medication errors made by the doctors?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEME NT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 222* FOR 6 TH MARCH , 2020

(a)  to  (c)  Health  is  a  State  subject.  However,  Clause  1.5  of  Indian  M Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics)  Regulations,  2 prescribes  that  every  physician  should  prescribe  drugs  with  generic  n legibly and preferably in capital l etters and he/she shall ensure that there is rational prescription and use of drug. Further, Medical Council of India has  issued  Circular  dated  21.04.2017  vide  which  all  the  Registered  Med Practitioners have been directed to comply with the afor esaid provisions. The MCI or the appropriate State Medical Councils have been empowered to tak disciplinary  action  against  a  doctor  for  violation  of  the  provision aforesaid  Regulations.  As  and  when  complaints  are  received  against violation of c ode of ethics for doctors, such complaints are referred by MCI the concerned State Medical Councils where the doctors/medical practitio are registered.

States  have  been  advised  to  ensure  prescription  of  generic  drugs conduct  regular  prescripti on  audits  in  public  health  facilities.  Practice prescription  audit  is  one  of  the  prerequisites  for  getting  certified National Quality Assurance Standards(NQAS).

Standard  Treatment  Guidelines  (STGs)  for  provision  of  proper  heal care for 227 m edical conditions belonging to 21 clinical specialties have issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and same are available in public domain. Standard Treatment Guidelines have a been prescribed under various Nationa l Health Programs.

Under  Clinical  Establishments  Act  2010  and  Rules  thereunder,  fo registration  and  continuation,  the  Clinical  Establishments  are  requir comply  to  the  Standard  Treatment  Guidelines,  as  may  be  issued  by  Centr Government  or  State  Gove rnment,  in  the  States/UTs,  where  the  said  Act  is applicable. As on date the Clinical Establishments Act 2010, is applicable States  and  5  Union  Territories  namely  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Biha Himachal  Pradesh,  Jharkhand,  Mizoram,  Rajasthan,  Sikkim ,  Uttar  Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh,  Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , Lakshadweep and Puducherry. 17 States and Union Territories have their own Acts for regulating clini establishments. The implementa tion of the Act is within the remit of respecti State/UT  Government.

Under National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided for provisio of essential generic drugs free of cost in public health facilities. The not  only  for  drugs  but  also for  various  components  necessary  for  effective implementation  of  Free  Drug  Service  Initiative  viz.  strengthening/setti robust  systems  of  procurement,  quality  assurance,  IT  backed  supply  ch management  systems  like  Drugs  and  Vaccines  Distribution  Man agement Systems  (DVDMS)  developed  by  CDAC,  warehousing,  prescription  audit, grievance redressal, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) training.

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