Doctors should prescribe only generic medicines: CDSCO Committee

The generic medicines are at least 90 per cent cheaper than branded medicines. There are nearly 600 types of generic medicines and about 23 kinds of therapeutic drugs. These drugs can be used for treating diabetes, viral fever, cough cold, kidney, liver, cancer diseases, etc.

New Delhi: To promote usage of generic medicines, the Central Drugs Control Standard Organisation's (CDCSO)- Drug Consultant Committee (DCC) has proposed that doctors should prescribe only generic instead of branded medicines to patients.

In the 56th meeting of the DCC, it was proposed that Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP) shall supply 'generic medicines' only.

However, it has also been recommended that RMP shall supply the 'physician sample' free of cost.

It may be noted that under schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 - RMP can supply different categories of medicines including vaccines to their patients as per exemptions provided with certain conditions.

"We have proposed to amend the exemptions provided under schedule K regarding the supply of medicines by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP) to their patients. These additional conditions are being incorporated to prevent the misuse of the exemptions," a senior official of the Health Ministry requesting anonymity told ANI.

"This is being done to promote generic medicines in the country. The process will take at least six months and after that, the Health Ministry will give its green signal for implementation,' he said.

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The generic medicines are at least 90 per cent cheaper than branded medicines. There are nearly 600 types of generic medicines and about 23 kinds of therapeutic drugs. These drugs can be used for treating diabetes, viral fever, cough cold, kidney, liver, cancer diseases, etc.

A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire.

Since the active chemical substance is the same, the medical profile of generics is believed to be equivalent in performance. A generic drug has the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) as the original, but it may differ in some characteristics such as the manufacturing process, formulation, excipients, colour, taste, and packaging

Also Read: Difference of 50-90 per cent in prices of Branded and Generic medicines- Minister informs Parliament