Question : Promoting Generic Medicines

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the action taken by the Government to promote generic drugs and Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS) in the country along with the achievements as a result thereof;

(b) whether the Government has made any efforts to encourage doctors to prescribe generic medicines over branded ones and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the progress made so far in opening Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS) in all medical colleges, district hospitals and private hospitals;

(d) whether the Indian Medical Association and Indian Medical Council have been consulted to promote the use of generic medicines in the country and if so, the outcome thereof;

(e) whether the generic version of each medicine is available in the market and if so, the details thereof along with the names of the Government companies which manufactured generic medicines; and

(f) Whether the Government is buying generic medicines from private companies also and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) With a view to achieving the objective of making available quality medicines at affordable prices, the Government has been taking several regulatory and fiscal measures from time to time. In order to provide further relief to the common man in the area of healthcare, a countrywide campaign for ensuring availability of quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all, in the name of “Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana” (PMJAY) has been started. As on date, there are 534 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK) functioning over 26 States/UTs. The PMJAY is being implemented by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI).

(b) The Medical Council of India has amended the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 on 08.10.2016 to provide a new para 1.5 regarding use of generic names of drugs which provides as under:
“Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”

(c) As on date, 226 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK) have been opened in State run hospitals, Medical Colleges and other Government hospitals.

(d) Yes, Indian Medical Association and Indian Medical Council are supporting PMJAY to promote the use of generic medicines. As noted in reply to part (b) above, Medical Council of India has amended the code to promote the use of generic medicines.

(e) Yes, generic version of each medicine is available in the market except patented medicines. The Government companies which are manufacturing generic medicines are : Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL), Rajasthan Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited (RDPL), Hindustan Antibitoics Limited (HAL), Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL) and Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited (BCPL).

(f) Yes, BPPI is buying generic medicines from private companies also through open tendering process for Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. Presently, more than 100 private manufacturers are providing generic medicines to Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY).
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