Based on a study done in the remote parts of Maharashtra over the past few years, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra branch is planning to promote affordable and efficacious medicines available through a ready reckoner named Nirmalaya.  Nirmalaya would enable around 35,000 allopaths across Maharashtra to prescribe branded generics of standard drug companies at the lowest price available without compromising on the quality, informed an official associated with the development.

The exercise is based on the premise that allopaths can recommend the lowest priced branded generic by referring 'Nirmalaya' a ready reckoner which can come handy for prescribing Schedule H, Schedule H1 and Schedule X drugs also.

This comes as a welcome change as Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has also recently issued a standard prescription format for allopathic doctors in the state to boost an accurate, uniform, standard and clear prescription for the sake of patient safety. The new format, prepared by Medical Council of India (MCI), is applicable for all doctors who practice allopathy in the country.

Over 80,000 MMC-affiliated doctors are expected to start using the new format from April onwards across Maharashtra. MMC is a statutory body having powers to suspend the licence of a doctor who is found guilty of malpractice.

The new prescription format is now in the process of getting disseminated across the state. Dr Shivkumar Utture, executive member, MMC, says, "The format which took some time to be approved by the executive committee has been prepared in consultation with all the state councils of the country. The beauty of the format is that it offers the physician to write generic medicines based on the efficacy, affordability and availability of drugs."

As per the new guidelines, allopathic doctors must write prescriptions legibly and in capital letters as well as furnish a complete and detailed prescription. The comprehensive format includes the doctor's full name, his/her qualification, patient's details, name of the generic medicine or its equivalent along with the dosage, strength, dosage form and instruction, name and address of medical store with pharmacist's name and date of dispensing, as well as the doctor's signature and stamp.

Promoting Nirmalya is a step in the right direction as the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is also planning to make 504 generic drugs, including 105 available at present, available under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme through retail drug stores across the country.  These drugs would range from antibiotics, anti-cardiac, anti-diabetic, anti-infective and gastro-intestinal drugs in six therapeutic segments.

The DoP, the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme, recently held meetings with the Indian Medical Association and Medical Council of India to boost generic drugs which are affordable and efficacious.

As part of the initiative, the government is also planning to involve private players to revive the fledgling Jan Aushadhi scheme which is completely dependent on a handful of public sector units (PSUs) for drug supply that makes it vulnerable to frequent stock outs.  Experts also pinpoint that getting doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names rather than brand names is also critical for the revival of Jan Aushadhi scheme. Currently, chemists are not legally allowed to substitute unbranded generics in place of prescribed branded generics.