Lok Sabha Question No. 1799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Prescription of Generic Drugs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Prasun Banerjee, Arjun Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1799 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH DECEMBER, 2022

## PRESCRIPTION OF GENERIC DRUGS

## 1799.   SHRI PRASUN BANERJEE: SHRI ARJUN SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has directed the Government and private medical practitioners to prescribe generic medicines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said directions are being adhered to in letter and spirit and if not, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (d) the details of steps taken by the Government to promote generic medicines in the country; and
- (e) whether the Government has any policy for consumer awareness regarding the names of generic drugs 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 (e): 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,  more  than  8,900 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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