NMC, National Medical Commission, has released new Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners.

According to which doctors now have to prescribe generic drugs to the patients than branded generic drugs.

Failing to do so could result in the doctor being penalized and their license of practise can also be suspended.

The NMC defines generic medicines as a “drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed product in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use”.

On the other hand, a branded generic drug is one which has come off patent and is manufactured by drug companies and sold under different companies’ brand names.

“India’s out-of-pocket spending on medications accounts for a major proportion of public spending on health care. Further, generic medicines are 30 to 80 % cheaper than branded drugs. Hence, prescribing generic medicines may overtly bring down health care cost and improve access to quality care.” , says the guideline.

Medicines that are easily available in the market and have an easy access for the patients is to be prescribed.

Other guidelines:

It urged the doctors to recommend the patients to buy medicines from jan aushudhi kendra.

It also states that RMP’s should educate medical students about the generic medicines equivalence to branded generic medicines.

The medical curriculum does not emphasizes enough on the importance of generic drugs in lessening the financial burden on the patients.[1]

Prescriptions are to be written in a legible manner preferably in all caps and if possible they are to be typed and printed to avoid all errors.

Doctors can now refuse to treat abusive, unruly and violent patients with prior notice as mentions the guideline.

[1]Joshi SS, Shetty YC, Karande S. Generic drugs – The Indian scenario. J Postgrad Med. 2019 Apr-Jun;65(2):67-69. doi: 10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_420_18. PMID: 31036775; PMCID: PMC6515776.