Even as the pharmaceutical industry sector remains discontented over the Union government’s plan to frame norms for mandatory generic prescriptions, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has for the third time in three years urged doctors, hospitals and medical colleges to comply with its earlier orders with regard to prescribing generic medicines as far as possible.
 
MCI, the medical regulatory body, feels that despite repeated directions to physicians, institutions and government bodies, the medical fraternity is failing to comply its orders.
 
In its circular dated April 21, 2017 to the principals of medical colleges, director of hospitals, presidents of all state medical councils, directors of state health services, state medical educations and state health secretaries, the MCI has directed to ensure compliance of generic prescriptions by practicing doctors and wanted them to inform the Council about the actions taken on the matter so far.
 
The MCI has taken up this matter seriously as the Prime Minister had made a statement in last week that his government would soon make prescription of generic medicines mandatory. In a bid to implement the plan of Narendra Modi, the MCI on April 21 sent circulars to the medical institutions and government bodies urging that all the registered medical practitioners under the IMC Act should comply with the provisions of the Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. The regulation says that ‘every physician should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs’.
 
The MCI wanted the medical colleges and educational institutions to give wide publicity to the regulations to ensure that all the doctors practicing medicine under each institution’s jurisdiction comply with the regulation.
 
The letter signed by MCI secretary in-charge, Dr Reena Nayyar, further wants the institutional heads and government authorities to take necessary steps for the observance of the provision of IMC Act. If any doctor is found violating the provision, the concerned state medical council will be liable for necessary action, said the circular.
 
According to sources, the MCI continues to be serious and uncompromising on prescription of generics because there is allegation that a pharma-doctor nexus forces the manufacturing companies for unethical marketing practices and charging exorbitant prices. Further it wants to ensure a rational prescription practice among the doctors and use of drugs accordingly.