‘Major hospitals in Mumbai can prescribe branded medicines along with generic ones’ | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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‘Major hospitals in Mumbai can prescribe branded medicines along with generic ones’

Hindustan Times | BySadaguru Pandit, Mumbai
Jun 27, 2017 09:21 AM IST

Mumbai city news: According to a source, the Medical Council of India (MCI) recently approved the demand of Association of Hospitals (AOH).

Major hospitals in the city can prescribe branded medicines along with their generic equivalents.

The MCI had issued a circular on April 21, instructing doctors to prescribe drugs with generic names as much as possible.(HT)
The MCI had issued a circular on April 21, instructing doctors to prescribe drugs with generic names as much as possible.(HT)

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.

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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 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 Dr PM Bhujang, 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 Dr Rajendra Patankar, CEO of Nanavati Hospital.

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 health ministry

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Doctors welcome move to prescribe generic drugs, say accessibility may be an issue

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