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There has been a lot of apprehension and confusion regarding the prescription practices after the recent notification of MCI that doctors should write generic names of drugs in the prescriptions and any violation for the same shall be treated as misconduct and violator shall be subjected to disciplinary action.
Medical Dialogues team met up with Dr. Girish Tyagi Registrar Delhi Medical Council to clarify the points of the recent notification of medical council of India dated 21/04/2017. Here are some of the major excerpts from the Interview
MD Team -What are the norms for writing the prescription as per Delhi Medical Council?
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Dr. Tyagi – As per the recent notification of MCI Dated 21/04/2017 the prescription should be legible, PREFERABLY in capital letters, SHOULD prescribe drugs with generic names and there should be rational prescription and use of drugs.
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MD Team – Recent notification of MCI has made it mandatory for doctors to write generic prescription for medicine prescribed by them. This has caused lot of confusion in the mind of doctors. Can doctor provide brand name along with generic name?
Dr. Tyagi – Firstly MCI circular does-not make it mandatory to write generic names of drugs, however it is advised by the council that a physician should write the generic name of drugs being prescribed by him should be legible and there should be rational. Yes, a doctor along with the generic name of drugs can mention brand name of drugs since there is no quality and pricing control on generic medicine and it is not wise to leave the patient on the mercy of the next door chemist.
MD Team – Does writing brand name along with generic name illegal or not?
Dr. Tyagi – No, it is not illegal a doctor can mention name of brands along with generic name of drugs.
MD Team – What are the implication if a doctor does-not write generic name of drugs in prescription?
Dr. Tyagi – As per MCI, it is not mandatory to write generic name of drugs but it is advisable by MCI. As per MCI circular dated 21/04/2017 clause 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.”
MD Team – What is a rational prescription?
Dr. Tyagi – Every practitioner while writing the prescription should make the prescription legible by writing in capital letters and make descriptive by writing the generic content of the drug being prescribed as well as the dose, strength and route of administration as well as duration. The prescription should have rational use of drugs and should have proper selection of drugs and should not be over prescribing drugs to patients.
Attached below is the MCI Notification
Author Details
Meghna A Singhania is the founder and Editor-in-Chief at Medical Dialogues. An Economics graduate from Delhi University and a post graduate from London School of Economics and Political Science, her key research interest lies in health economics, and policy making in health and medical sector in the country.
She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
Contact no. 011-43720751
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Though there is no bar of writing brand names the notification is very clear about the direction of writing generic names. In the notification it is clearly mentioned as \”Every Physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly – – – – \”. When the word \”should\” is being used how can one say it is not mandatory I do not understand. As per my opinion prescribing drugs in generic name is mandatory whether he writes brand name along with it or not. Advisory is only for capital letters since the word used is \”preferably\” for this, I feel
What about multiple medication combination? Example Multivitamins etc? Should doctor keep writing their Generic names? How much time it consumes? Already there is shortage of medical fraternity. If the doctor keep writing all these, then time time of quality treatment comes down. There should be some rationale. I hope Sri Narendra Modiji will think in other aspects also.
Govt should spend more money in public health sector.gimmics of doing free ambulance ,alternative medicine and manipulating pvt health for its failure will lead to anarchy
Generic drugs ??? Quality Control f Generic drugs
labelling their products ( Generic drugs)
Uniform cost of manufacturer drugs.
Branded medicines should have fixed prizes( with low costs)
Even the generic drugs are not available in market with chemical name. The MCI and Government are aware of it? Doctors and pharma companies are experiments for Govt orders. Health minister of Haryana had ordered that private doctors will not declare dengue, jut to hide ministry\’s failures and nothing else? But it surely hurt the ego of respected physicians