Prescribe Generic Names of Drugs: Medical Council Reminds Doctors, warns of disciplinary action

Although the circular by erstwhile MCI, now National Medical Commission (NMC) had been issued back in 2017, recently the Hon'ble Lokayukta took suo motto cognizance of the matter and clarified that if any doctor contravenes the MCI direction it amounts to acting against MCI and invites disciplinary action.

"Recently Hon'ble Lokayukta has taken suomotto of this issue and called the Registrar, TSMC that what action the Medical Council has taken in this regard. The Registrar has given explanation that the Council has brought to the notice of all doctors associations, private hospitals and Heads of the Govt Medical Departments, Principals of Medical Colleges, Superintendents of all teaching hospitals and District Medical & Health Officers and Superintendents District Head Quarters Hospitals to inform this policy to individual doctors working under their organization," mentioned Telangana State Medical Council advisory dated 11.01.2022.

"Now recently somebody has filed PIL in the Hon'ble High Court also which is under trial. The Hon'ble Lokayukta also given direction to the Registrar, TSMC to take up this issue seriously and gave verdict that ANY DOCTOR CONTRAVENES, THIS DIRECTION IT AMOUNTS TO ACTING AGAINST THE MCI DIRECTION AND INVITES DISCIPLINARY ACTION," it added.

Also Read: Prescribe only Generic Drugs or Face Action: MCI

Medical Dialogues had reported back in 2017 that the erstwhile MCI in a letter directed to the Deans/Principals of all the Medical Colleges, Director of all the hospitals (exclusive PG Institutions without medical colleges), Presidents of all the State Medical Councils, Health Secretaies, Director medical education and director health services of all the States, was seen seen highlighting its circulars and amendments on the issue.

"The clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 has been amended in 2016 and notified in the Gazette of India on 21.09.2016, which reads as under:-

"1.5 - Use of Generic names of drugs: Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs."

The erstwhile apex medical regulator had stated that All the Registered Medical Practitioners under the IMC Act were directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions of the Regulations "without fail".

"For any doctor found violating clause.5 of Ethics Regulation, suitable disciplinary action would be undertaken by the concerned SMC/ MCI," MCI had clarified.

Recently, the directions issued by erstwhile MCI was taken seriously various organizations brought this matter to the notice of the Legal authorities to note and implement it. Accordingly, Telangana State Medical Council notified all the doctors of the State regarding the issue.

In the advisory dated 11.01.2022, the state medical council directed all the medical professionals in the State to write only Generic names of drugs in the prescriptions.

"Hence it is a sincere second appeal to all the doctors to follow strictly and write prescriptions in Generic names only. If anybody complaints to the Council, it has no go over except calling explanation and start disciplinary proceedings against whom the complaint is lodged. Hence all the doctors are requested to follow the directions of MCI and feel free from legal issues," read the TSMC advisory.

Speaking to medical dialogues regarding the issue, Dr. Ravinder Reddy, former Chairman of TSMC said, "It was a routine advisory to the doctors as already the erstwhile MCI had issued the directions in this regard."

The Hans India adds that Dr. Ch Hanmantha Rao, Registrar of TSMC while mentioning about the complaints received in this regard so far informed the daily that a person has recently approached the Lok Adalat, Hyderabad-National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) regarding the issue.

The complainant alleged that he had faced health problems after taking medicines mentioned in a brand name in the prescription and he couldn't read them as well. Dr. Rao further informed the daily that NALSA has clearly given directions to initiate action against doctors found in violation of the MCI Act.

Although in reply TSMC has mentioned that it lacked the power for taking action, it also assured that "TSMC will lodge complaints and supervise it by explaining and the matter will also be discussed in the TSMC inhouse court and the council will ensure to resolve the problem."