Question : Prescription of Medicines

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether medical errors including illegible handwriting of doctors cause a number of preventable deaths in the country, and if so, the number of such casualties reported and the action taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken note of doctors prescribing costlier and branded medicines instead of generic medicines in collusion with pharmaceutical companies/private chemists for personal gains and profits and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that the medical prescriptions are written in legible hand and the generic names of medicines also clearly mentioned thereon;

(d) whether the Government proposes to set up generic medicine centres in the country, and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise; and

(e) the other measures being taken by the Government to encourage use of generic medicines and ensure their quality and safety in the country?

(a) No such information is available with the Department.
Contd……..

-2-
(b) & (c): The provisions contained in Clause 1.5 of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 is as under:
1.5: “Use of Generic names of drugs: Every physician should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs”.
(d): In order to provide relief to the common man in the area of Health care a campaign for ensuring availability of generic medicines at affordable prices to all through Jan Aushadhi Drugs Stores, in the name of “Jan Aushadhi Campaign” was launched by Department of Pharmaceuticals in November, 2008. As reported by Department of Pharmaceuticals, at present, 111 such Stores are functional and 361 medicines are being made available through these stores.
(e): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already advised all Government Hospitals, Institutions and Dispensaries to adhere to rational prescription including prescribing generic medicines to the extent possible.