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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 481*
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27THMARCH, 2026
PRESCRIPTION OF GENERIC MEDICINES
†*481. SHRI CHANDAN CHAUHAN:
Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the doctors in our country generally prescribe branded drugs instead of the
name of the salt or generic drugs for the treatment of the patients, as a result of
that/thereby the patients are compelled and left with no option but to buy expensive
medicines of the branded companies, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the concrete steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make it
mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic drugs or the names of salts instead of branded
drugs so as to make affordable generic drugs available, particularly to the poor and
middle-class patients in rural areas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) & (b) AStatement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLYTO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 481* FOR 27TH MARCH, 2026
(a) & (b) Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and
Ethics) Regulations, 2002 provides that every physician should prescribe drugs with
generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is
a rational prescription and 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 polyclinics prescribe generic
medicines.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 empowers State Medical Council
(SMC) or the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC to take disciplinary
action in respect of any professional or ethical misconduct by a registered medical
practitioner or professional.
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