The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently issued new rules to all doctors this week. According to these, all doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines to patients, failing which they will be punished and their license to practice can also be suspended. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought deferment of the implementation of these rules.

The IMA has raised concerns about the quality standards of drugs manufactured in India as less than 0.10 per cent of these are tested for quality. The association said in a statement that if doctors would not be allowed to prescribe 'branded' medicines for patients, then why should such medicines be licensed.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) in its “Rules for Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners” has said that all doctors must prescribe generic medicines to patients. If they do not do so, they (doctors) will be punished and even their license to 'practice' will be suspended for a period.

It has also asked doctors to avoid prescribing 'branded' generic medicines to patients. IMA said, “The biggest hurdle for generic medicines is the uncertainty regarding their quality. Quality control is very weak in the country. There is practically no guarantee of the quality of medicines and prescribing medicines without being assured of the quality would be detrimental to the health of the patient.”

 

It said, “Less than 0.1 percent of the drugs manufactured in India undergo quality testing. The move should be postponed until the government assures the quality of all drugs released in the market.” The IMA said that instead of going through the NMC, the government should go the pharma (pharmaceutical companies) route and All 'branded' medicines should be banned. It said the government allows multiple categories like 'branded' and 'branded generic' and allows pharmaceuticals companies to sell the same product at different prices.

The doctors' association said, "Such loopholes in the law should be removed." The promotion of generics needs to be realised, a statement from the association said. "If the government is serious about introducing generic drugs, it should license only generics and not any branded drug, while ensuring the quality of generic drugs." Quality medicines should be made available in the market.

 

The IMA appealed to the government to adopt a "one drug, one quality, one price" system, wherein all brands are sold at the same price and only generic drugs are allowed, while ensuring the highest quality of these drugs.