MCI makes it mandatory for doctors to prescribe both generic and brand names

Hyderabad, October, 2016:

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has made it mandatory for physicians and doctors to mention the names of both generic and branded drugs while prescribing medicines to patients. 

According to an amendment made to the MCI (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulation 2002, wherein the MCI has made compulsory for the physicians to prescribe the names of the drugs in capital letters, in continuation to the same it has also made it mandatory to prescribe both generic and branded drug names while writing prescriptions to the patients. “Though the MCI’s regulations are set keeping in view the patients welfare, but with the many pharma companies manufacturing the same drug under different brands, it is difficult for a doctor to remember both generic and brand names,” opined Dr. Priyanka, a young practicing doctor. 

Even earlier, the MCI had released a directive to the physicians to write the medical prescriptions in capital letters, however, no one has taken it seriously and majority of the doctors both in the government and the private clinics are prescribing in scribbling writing. “Apart from releasing advisories and directives, the government should also release a list of updated generic names of the all generic and combination medicines, so that the doctors can remember or else it is very difficult for the doctors to remember both generic and branded names. Moreover, for complex disease like cardiovascular, cancer and HIV the doctors need to prescribe combination drugs which will become even more difficult for a doctor to comply with the latest directive,” opined Dr. G. K. Rao, a senior general physician. 

For a common man to understand, a generic drug is the same as a branded drug in dosage, safety, strength and quality. Generic drugs work the same way as branded drugs and they must also be taken in the same manner. 

However, in certain cases, the doctors and physicians have had certain confusions at clinical levels, wherein during their observations while prescribing branded and generic drugs it is observed that if one group of patients is satisfied with generic drugs, while the another group is not; they claim that they have not been cured. “The problem is often with their uncontrolled diet, other co-morbid conditions and their lifestyle. Once they take branded drugs, they claim to be fine, which often confuses us too,” informed Dr. Bhaskar, a general physician.

However, a few professional experts and educationalists opined that there is a purposeful bad-mouthing of generic drugs that they are not good in quality. But consumers must be made aware and assured that generic drugs go through the same rigid standards of clearances and checks like any innovative drug. They contain the same active ingredients and are identical in strength, dosage form and administration.