August 12, 2023
Introduction
In a move aimed at reducing healthcare costs and improving access to quality care. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced new regulations mandating doctors to prescribe generic drugs. Under these regulations, doctors who fail to adhere to the prescription of generic drugs could face penalties, including the suspension of their medical licenses.*
The NMC’s recently issued ‘Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners’. It emphasizes the importance of prescribing generic medications over branded ones. The regulations, which took effect on August 2, 2023, are a response to India’s significant out-of-pocket spending on medications, a major contributor to healthcare expenditure.
The rationale behind the regulations lies in the substantial cost difference between generic and branded drugs, with generic medicines being priced 30 to 80 percent lower than their branded counterparts. By prescribing generic drugs, healthcare costs can be substantially reduced, paving the way for improved accessibility to quality medical care.
New guidelines
According to the new guidelines, generic drugs are defined as “drug products that are comparable to brand/reference listed products in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use.” On the other hand, branded generic drugs, which have come off patent, are sold under different brand names and can be less costly than the original branded version but pricier than bulk-manufactured generic alternatives. However, they may lack regulatory controls over their prices.
The regulations outline that all registered medical practitioners (RMPs) must prescribe drugs using generic names in a legible manner. The aim is to promote rational and ethical prescription practices, avoiding unnecessary medications and irrational combinations. Violations of these guidelines could result in warnings, mandatory workshops on ethics and professional conduct, or further disciplinary actions.
For repeated violations, the NMC has the authority to suspend a doctor’s license for a specified period. Additionally, the regulations stress the importance of legible prescriptions, preferably typed and printed to minimize errors. The NMC has provided a template that doctors can use to write prescriptions rationally. Along with promoting standardized practices across the medical community.
The goal is to improve access to generic medicines. Along with the regulations to encourage medical practitioners to advocate for the availability of generic drugs in hospitals and local pharmacies.
Doctors are also encouraged to recommend patients purchase medications from government-sponsored Jan Aushadhi Kendras and other generic pharmacy outlets. Moreover, medical professionals are expected to educate both medical students and the general public about the equivalence of generic medicines to their branded counterparts, fostering awareness and understanding of these options.
Conclusion
As India takes a bold step toward affordable and accessible healthcare. The NMC’s new regulations signal a pivotal shift in prescription practices within the medical community.
With the potential to alleviate financial burdens on patients and enhance the overall quality of care. The move toward generic drug prescriptions is a significant stride forward in India’s healthcare landscape.
