GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2170
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST, 2025
PRESCRIPTION OFBRANDED MEDICINES
†2170.SHRIBABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware that doctors generally prescribe branded medicines
instead of mentioning the...
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2170 TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST, 2025 PRESCRIPTION OFBRANDED MEDICINES †2170.SHRIBABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware that doctors generally prescribe branded medicines instead of mentioning the name of the salt or formula, due to which patients have no option but to purchase expensive medicines from branded companies in the country and if so, the detailsthereof; and
(b) the concrete steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that doctors prescribe generic medicines or mentionthe name of the salt instead of branded medicines? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b): Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is rational prescription anduse of drug. Further, the erstwhile Medical Council of India(MCI) hadissued Circulars vide which all Registered Medical Practitioners have been directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions.
The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Central Government hospitals to prescribe generic medicines only. Similar instructions also have been issued to prescribe drugs with generic name legibly’ toall Central Government Health Scheme(CGHS) Doctors andWellnessCentres.
The National Medical Commission Act, 2019, empowers the appropriate State Medical Councils or the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provision of the aforesaid Regulations. Further, States have been advised to ensure prescription of generic drugs andconductregularprescription auditsinpublic healthfacilities.
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