Parliament Question: Prescription and Availability of Generic Medicines

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1040 TOBE ANSWERED ON24THJULY,2026 PRESCRIPTIONANDAVAILABILITYOFGENERICMEDICINES 1040.SHRINAVASKANIK: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines or medicines by their salt names instead of branded drugs to ensure affordable treatmentfor patients, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether the Government has assessed the impact of such a measure on reducing out-of- pocket expenditure, particularly among poor and middle-class families in rural areas, if so, the detailsthereof; (c) whether any guidelines or directions have been issued to Government and private healthcare institutions in Tamil Nadu regarding the prescription of generic medicines, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has conducted any assessment regarding the availability and uninterrupted supply of essential generic medicines in Government hospitals and Primary Health Centres(PHCs) across TamilNadu,ifso, thedetailsthereof; and (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen awareness, quality assurance and accessibility of affordable generic medicines, particularly for patients suffering from chronic diseases such asdiabetes,hypertension andcardiovascularailmentsinTamil Nadu? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA) (a)to (e): Clause 1.5of the IndianMedical Council (Professional Conduct,Etiquette andEthics) Regulations, 2002 provides that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legiblyand preferablyincapital lettersandhe/she shall ensure thatthere isa rationalprescriptionand use of drug. Further, the Directorate General of Health Services has instructed vide order dated 12.05.2023 that all doctors in Central Government hospitals, CGHS Wellness Centres and polyclinicsprescribe generic medicines. The Government of Tamil Nadu has informedthat the Tamil Nadu Medical ServicesCorporation (TNMSC) ensures the uninterrupted availability of essential generic medicines to Government Medical College Hospitals, Government Hospitals, Urban Primary Health Centres and Primary HealthCentres through the Drug Distribution Management System(DDMS), which enablesreal- time monitoringof stock availability, consumption, indentfulfilment andsupply status. Further, TNMSC procures quality-assured generic medicines for Co-operative Societies implementing the Mudhalvar Marunthagam Scheme, thereby ensuring the availability of affordable generic medicinestothe public. The Tamil Nadu Government, through TNMSC, has implemented the following measures to ensure the qualityandaccessibility of affordablegeneric medicines: i. Medicines are procured through transparent tender procedures only from manufacturers complyingwith the prescribed statutory andqualityrequirements. ii. Drug batches supplied to TNMSC are subjected to quality testing through empanelled NABL-accredited laboratories before release for distribution. Medicines failing to conform to the prescribed quality standards are rejected and appropriate contractual actionisinitiated. iii. Essential generic medicines included inthe approvedEssential Drugs List are supplied free of cost to Government health institutions to ensure uninterrupted treatment, particularly for patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension andcardiovasculardiseases. iv. The Essential Drugs List is periodically reviewed and updated based on expert recommendations and prevailing treatment guidelines to ensure availability of appropriate medicines. v. Awarenessregardingrationalprescribinganduseofgenericmedicinesispromotedbythe concernedDirectorates through trainingandcapacity-building programmesfor healthcare professionals. *****