New NMC norms: generic drug prescriptions will shift balance between physicians and pharmacists, say doctors

“The doctor asked me to get the medicine prescribed here and not what you have given,” said a customer at a medical store adjacent to Hyderabad’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday. Medical professionals express varying opinions with the new guidelines released by the National Medical Commission on August 3 emphasising that all Registered Medical Practitioners must prescribe medications using generic names in a legible and clear manner. The rationale behind these directives, according to the NMC, is to reduce healthcare costs for the population by advocating the use of generic drugs, which are often 30 to 80% cheaper than branded counterparts. Dr.Rao added that instead of asking doctors to prescribe generic drugs, the government should try to reduce the price of branded drugs by reducing taxes and providing infrastructure at a lower cost. The NMC’s guidelines also encourage patients to purchase drugs from Jan Aushadhi Kendras and other generic pharmacy outlets, while advising against branded generic medicines.