New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) instructed doctors working in government hospitals to only prescribe generic medicines, if patients request for medicine from outside the hospital’s stock. The commission said that doctors should not prescribe costly medicine from outside. 

NMC clearly said that if the doctors did not follow these instructions, then the government would take strict action against them.

In the ‘Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioner Regulation’ released on August 2, the National Medical Commission made it clear that instead of prescribing branded generic medicines, doctors should write the name of patients’ and prescription of generic medicine on the slip.

The licence of Doctor’s who will not follow the new rules can be suspended for a certain time period. The commission said that by doing so, there would be a reduction in the expenditure on treatment.

NMC further said that generic medicines are 30 to 80 percent cheaper than branded medicines and if doctors practise the new norm the expenditure on medicines will be cheaper for common people. 

Common people spend a major portion of their earnings on health, with more money being spent on medicines. So, prescribing generic medicine will be a help for them, said NMC.

The central government has been constantly emphasising the use of generic medicines in the country. In this order, Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country, so that people can buy generic medicines at cheap prices. 

Now with the new law in effect, there will be a reduction in the expenditure on the treatment of people and people will be able to get better health services.

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