Lok Sabha Question No. 699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Prescribing Drugs with Generic names
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Ravindra Kushawaha, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Subrata Pathak, Prataprao  Jadhav, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta

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

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 699 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2021

## PRESCRIBING DRUGS WI TH GENERIC NAMES

## 699. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

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

- (a) whether the Medical Council of India has advised doctors to prescribe drugs with generic name only and if so, the details thereof along with the status of compliance thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any enquiry/study to ascertain the implementation of theadvisory by the doctors;
- (c) if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the number of complaints received by the Government/MCI for not prescribing drugs with genericname  by  the  Docto rs  across  the  country  during  each  of the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- (e) the action taken/being taken by the Government on such complaints so far, State/UT - wise; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken to ensure doctors prescription of only generic medicines by doctors and curb promotion advertisement of branded drugs by doctors in connivance with the drug companies?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

( DR. BHARATI PRAVIN P AWAR

## )

(a)to (f): Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional   Conduct, Etiquette Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with g names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that t here i  a rational prescription and use of drug. Further, the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) had Circulars dated 2.11.2012, 18.01.2013 and 21.04.2017 vide which all the Registered Medi Practitioners were directed to comply with the afor esaid provisions.

The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 empowers Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Commission or the appropriate State Medical Councils to take disciplinary action against a doctor  for violation  of  the  provision  of  the aforesaid Regulations.As and when complaints are received against the violation of code of ethics doctors, such complaints are referred by EMRB (previously by erstwhile MCI) to the concer State Medical C ouncils where the doctors/medical practitioners are registered. The Ethics Medical Registration Board (EMRB) is the Appellate Authority in the matter. The detail number of complaints received by the Government/MCI for not prescribing drugs with gen eric name by the Doctors across the country is not maintained centrally. States  have  been  advised to  ensure  prescription  of  generic  drugs  and conduct  regular  prescription  audits health  facilities.

Practice  of prescription  au dit  is  one  of  the  prerequisites  for  getting  certifie the  National  Quality  Assurance  Standards(NQAS).  Further,  under  National  Health  Missio (NHM), support is provided for provision of essential generic drugs free of cost in publ f acilities.