Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether chemists have attacked doctors in West Bengal and other States for prescribing generic drugs and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government to popularise generic drugs and protect doctors from such attacks for prescribing generic drugs?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a): There have been media reports that junior doctors at a Government hospital in Kalyani, West Bengal were attacked by a mob of pharmacy owners for following a State Government order which made it mandatory for doctors to issue prescriptions with generic names.
(b): The Government has amended the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and made it mandatory to submit application in generic name only for grant of manufacturing license for a drug formulation containing single active ingredient. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 also mandates that physicians prescribe, as far as possible, drugs with generic names and ensure rational prescription and use of drugs. The Department of Pharmaceuticals promotes availability of generic drugs by opening Jan Aushadhi Stores under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana.