Notwithstanding the confusion over generic medicines, the government officials have clarified that doctors will not be prohibited from writing popular brand names of medicines in prescriptions. The generic versus branded medicine debate intensified following Prime Minister Modi’s recent comments which suggested that the government was considering legal steps to make it mandatory for doctors to write generic names in prescriptions. But now, the government is aiming to encourage doctors to write both names.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers said that, “We are promoting generic medicines. But we are not banning the writing of the brand name of a medicine”. Further, the officials in the pharmaceuticals department commented that, the government is in no position to make it mandatory for the doctors to write only generic names, as there are multiple legal and technical challenges.…
