Major hospitals in the city can
prescribe branded medicines along with their generic
equivalents. According to a source, the Medical Council of India (MCI)
recently approved the demand of Association of Hospitals (AOH), a body of 53
major hospitals in the city, which complained about the risks of unqualified
chemists dispensing generic medicines.
The MCI had issued a circular on April 21,
instructing doctors to prescribe drugs with generic names as much as possible.
The move was to benefit millions of poor people as branded medicines are
extremely expensive.
“Every physician should prescribe drugs with
generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure
there is a rational prescription and use of the drug,” the circular had read.
“As observed, most pharmacies are run by unqualified chemists who might
prescribe medicines that are similar or choose manufacturers with higher
commission rate and not keep the effectiveness in mind. Thus, we had requested
the MCI to allow us to also prescribe branded medicines along with generic
ones,” said the president of AOH. However, doctors said they have already been
prescribing medicines with their branded names and also mentioning the generic
equivalents. “Eventually what matters is patient care. Secondly, it is not
feasible for all doctors to remember all the generic variations of a certain
medicinal component,” said CEO of A famous Hospital in Bombay.
Experts said physicians have been prescribing
branded drugs along with generic ones. However, MCI approval will give legal
protection to the practice. “MCI’s attempt has failed because of no mechanism
to ensure implementation. If MCI agree to the demands of AOH on paper, it will
further nullify the order completely because pharmacies will officially start
dispensing only branded medicines again,” said an expert from the health
ministry.
The MCI had issued a circular on April 21,
instructing doctors to prescribe drugs with generic names as much as possible.
Source : Hindustan times, Mumbai
Edition.
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