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The National Medical Commission (NMC) and State Medical Councils have been empowered to take disciplinary action against doctors who fail to prescribe medicines by their generic names, the Union Minister of State for Health, Smt. Anupriya Patel, informed the Lok Sabha recently. This move aims to promote the prescription of cost-effective generic drugs over branded medicines, which often force patients to bear higher expenses.
Under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, all registered medical practitioners (RMPs) are mandated to prescribe drugs using generic names legibly, preferably in capital letters. The regulations also emphasize rational prescription practices, avoiding unnecessary medications and irrational fixed-dose combinations. The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Central Government hospitals to prescribe generic medicines, along with issuing similar guidelines for Central Government Health Scheme doctors and wellness centers.
The NMC’s recently released Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) Regulations 2023 reinforced these requirements, explicitly making it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines only. Violation of these regulations can result in disciplinary action, including suspension of a doctor’s license to practice for up to 30 days.
States have been advised to conduct regular prescription audits to ensure compliance in public health facilities. Despite these mandates, the Ministry of Health acknowledged that no centralized data on disciplinary actions for non-compliance is maintained, suggesting gaps in enforcement. Moreover, the medical fraternity has expressed reservations about the mandatory nature of prescribing generics in all cases, citing practical difficulties such as the complexity of multi-ingredient drugs.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), representing doctors nationwide, has opposed the mandatory prescription of generic drugs, citing concerns over the quality assurance of generics in the market. According to the IMA, less than 0.1% of generic drugs manufactured in India undergo quality testing, and patient safety should remain the priority. The IMA has even urged the Union Health Ministry to reconsider the NMC regulations until a robust quality assurance system is in place.
This development reflects ongoing tension between the drive to reduce healthcare costs through generic medication and concerns about drug quality and prescribing autonomy. The government’s directives aim to make healthcare more affordable without compromising care, while simultaneously empowering regulatory bodies to enforce compliance among medical practitioners.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and related credible sources as of August 2025. The policies and regulatory frameworks discussed are subject to change as per government and regulatory authorities’ decisions. Readers are advised to consult official government releases and professional advisories for the most current information.
