IMA pulls back notification for mandatory generic drugs prescription
Now doctors can refuse treatment in specific cases: NMC
Nearly 30-60% price difference in branded and generic drugs
Updated: Aug 25th, 2023
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| Doctors to now only prescribe generic medicines (img: Envato Elements) |
The national medical commission (NMC) announced new rules in its ‘Regulations relating to the Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners’, which will make it mandatory for medical practitioners to prescribe generic medicines to patients. The doctors violating this rule will be fined and may even have their practising licence revoked for a while.
Updated on Aug 25, 12.45 p.m.
The newly-notified registered medical practitioner (professional conduct) regulations, 2023, by the national medical commission (NMC), has been temporary suspended by the union government.
The latest development come days after Indian medical association (IMA) had written to the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya raising serious concerns on the said regulations.
Earlier, IMA National President Sharad Kumar Agarwal attended the meeting convened by Mandaviya with all the stakeholders to discuss issues on the said regulations.
However, under the new rules, doctors have also been granted the right to choose not to treat a patient.
Mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic drugs
The new rules announced by the NMC on Aug 2 state that every registered medical practitioner (RMP) must prescribe medicines using legibly spelt generic names. If this rule is violated, the doctor may be issued a warning to be more careful. Workshops or academy programmes on ethics, personal and social relations, or professional training will also be organised for the implementation of this rule amongst doctors.
Although doctors must prescribe only generic drugs, the rules described by the Indian medical council (IMC) in 2002 did not include a penalty.
Doctors to not prescribe branded generic drugs too
The NMC has asked doctors to refrain from prescribing branded generic drugs as well.
Branded generic drugs are the ones that are not patented but are manufactured by drug companies. These drugs can be less expensive compared to branded patent versions of drugs.
Generic drugs 30-80% cheaper than branded drugs in India
The notification from the NMC stated that expenses on medicines take up a major chunk of the health care expenditure of the people in India. The NMC stated that generic drugs are 30-80% cheaper than branded drugs. Doctors prescribing generic drugs can therefore reduce healthcare costs.
Doctors can now refuse treatment in specific cases
The new rules implemented by the NMC also give doctors the right to refuse treatment to patients who show indecent or violent behaviour. Apart from this, doctors can refuse the treatment even if the medical fees are not paid, according to this rule.
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