Non-compliance with NMC regulations on generic prescriptions is professional misconduct, attracts disciplinary action: Health Ministry
Doctor
New Delhi: Doctors have been directed to comply with the provisions issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and other authorities on prescribing generic names of the drugs in legible handwriting, the Union Minister of State for Health, Smt Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha recently.
Parliament member Shri Shaktisinh Gohil had sought details from the Health Ministry regarding the initiatives taken by NMC and EMRB to ensure compliance with Regulation 1.5 of the Medical Council of India (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. Further, he questioned whether failure to prescribe medicines by their generic names amounts to professional misconduct, the reasons for rampant violations nationwide even after 23 years, the details of circulars, directions, or advisories issued, and the number of RMPs found guilty and the disciplinary action taken.
In response, Minister Patel informed that Clause 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that 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.
She further informed that the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) had issued Circulars through which all the Registered Medical Practitioners had been directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions.
"Moreover, the Directorate General of Health Services had directed all Central Government hospitals to prescribe generic medicines only. Similar instructions had also been issued to 'prescribe drugs with generic name legibly' to all Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Doctors and Wellness Centres," she added.
Apart from this, the Minister also informed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, empowers the State Medical Council (SMC) or the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC to take disciplinary action in respect of any professional or ethical misconduct by a registered medical practitioner or professional.
Medical Dialogues recently reported that, observing the need for strengthened and structured monitoring of prescription practices across all medical colleges, the National Medical Commission instructed all medical colleges across India to constitute Sub-Committees under the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC), to monitor prescriptions and ensure compliance with the statutory, regulatory, and ethical standards.
Back in 2023, releasing the National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner RMP (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023, the Apex Medical Commission had specified the guidelines, laying down the various Dos and Don'ts for writing prescriptions. Back then, the Commission had laid stress on generic prescriptions by doctors only, making violation of the same a punishable offence where punishment can lead to suspension of the licence for up to 30 days. However, these regulations were later put on hold.
