A survey of 4,892 doctors in the country has revealed 80% of them were prescribing at least one drug from the 344 fixed drug combinations recently banned by the Union health ministry.
Doctors feel the sudden ban on these drugs, which are commonly used antibiotics and painkillers, has damaged their reputation.
A healthcare advocacy firm, eMediNexus conducted the survey on March 15 and March 16 to understand the impact of the ban on the medical community. Four of ten respondents labelled the ban “unnecessary”. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists wrote to the Drug Controller General of India asking them to reconsider the ban.
The Centre has banned those drugs that contain more than two formulas or ingredients . “Why do we need to give a drug for fever when the patient just has a cold. These combinations were only developing resistance,” said a senior doctor from a medical college. Around 60% doctors in the survey supported the government’s ban. General practitioners said they are being flooded with calls from patients anxious about consuming the now banned drugs in the past. “After reading news reports, patients are worried,” said Dr Pratit Samdani, physician, Breach Candy Hospital.