Lok Sabha Question No. 1566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Promotion of Generic Medicines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1566 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## PROMOTION OF GENERIC MEDICINES

## 1566. SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  directed  doctors  in  public  and  private  hospitals  to  prescribe generic medicines and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the said direction is being followed by the doctors and if not, the complaints received in this regard and the action taken thereon;
- (c) the details of steps taken by the Government to promote generic medicines in the country; and
- (d) whether the Government has any policy for consumers and medical stores regarding generic medicines in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (d):  Clause  1.5  of  Indian  Medical  Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics) Regulations,  2002  prescribes  that  every  physician  should  prescribe  drugs  with  generic  names legibly and preferably in capital letters. Further, the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) had issued Circulars vide which all the Registered Medical Practitioners have been directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions.

The  National  Medical  Commission  Act,  2019,  empowers  the  State  Medical  Councils/ Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Commission to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provision of the aforesaid Regulations. When complaints are received  against  the  violation  of  code  of  ethics  for  doctors,  such  complaints  are  referred  by EMRB  (previously  by  erstwhile  MCI)  to  the  concerned  State  Medical  Councils  where  the doctors/medical practitioners are registered. States are advised to ensure prescription of generic drugs in public health facilities.

In order to promote generic medicines at affordable prices to all, as on 31.12.2022, about 9,000  Pradhan  Mantri  Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Kendras  (PMBJK)  have  been  set  up  covering  all districts of the country.

Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  /Pharmaceuticals  &  Medical  Devices  Bureau  of  India (PMBI) is spreading awareness about the scheme through advertisements by Electronic Media,

Print Media as well as through Outdoor publicity. In addition, information is disseminated about the benefits of Jan Aushadhi generic medicines and the scheme through social media platforms. PMBI also maintains a mobile application namely Janaushadhi Sugam, a single window platform to  assist  users  in  many  ways  like  locating  nearby  PMBJK,  searching  Janaushadhi  medicines, telephone numbers, etc. Further, Jan Aushadhi Diwas is celebrated every year on 7 March  for further dissemination and spreading awareness about the Scheme.

Under free  drug  initiative  of  National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  support  is  provided  for provision of essential generic drugs free of cost in public health facilities.

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