(a) whether the Government has issued instructions to Government hospitals to
prescribe generic names medicines alongwith the brand names;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;
(c) whether these instructions are being followed by the hospitals;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (e): “Health†being a State subject, it is primarily the responsibility of the
concerned State Government to issue such instruction to their Government Hospitals. However,
in view of the ever increasing cost of public health care delivery, making available less
priced quality unbranded generic medicines for all, all Central Government Hospitals/dispensaries
in Delhi and outside Delhi have been instructed to advise their medical practioners to
prescribe only generic versions of medicines in the hospitals/ dispensaries/wellness centres
and whenever the branded versions are prescribed, these should be supplemented with ‘or
equivalent ingredients’.
Hospitals have also been informed that generic medicines are equivalent to the branded
medicines in terms of efficacy and quality as they contain the same active ingredients in
the same concentration in the same dosage form and also meet the same standard.
Hospitals authorities have issued the instruction to all the Heads of the Departments to
monitor that treating doctors are prescribing Generic Medicine only.