Row Over Guidelines On Generic Drugs: IMA Meets Health Minister Mandaviya, 'Waiting For Decision'

IMA national president Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal said the IMA raised concerns over NMC guidelines that suggest prescribing of generic medicines rather than branded drugs.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and IMA president Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal ( Image Source :X/Indian Medical Association )

Amid backlash from doctors over new guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on generic medicines, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Monday. IMA national president Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal said the issue was among the major points raised by them at the meeting, which though "went well" remained inconclusive.  

Speaking to ABP Live after the meeting, Dr Agarwal said the minister listened to their concerns, but no timeline was given for action on their demands. He said the meeting went on for over two hours.

"Nothing has been decided yet. The meeting went well. The health minister listened to us but we are waiting for any decision from the government. No timeline has been given yet to us," the IMA president said.

Dr Agarwal said the IMA raised concerns over the NMC guidelines that suggest prescribing of generic medicines rather than branded drugs.

Earlier this month, the NMC, India's apex medical regulator, issued fresh guidelines for Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) (doctors) through a gazette notification.

READ | NMC Permits Doctors To Deny Treatment To Violent Patients And Relatives, Bars Endorsement Of Drugs

What The NMC Guidelines Say On Generic Drugs  

What has irked doctors and the pharmaceutical industry is the NMC guideline on generic drugs.

"Every RMP  should prescribe drugs using generic names written legibly and prescribe drugs rationally, avoiding unnecessary medications and irrational fixed-dose combination tablets," the guideline reads.

The NMC has underlined that generic medicines are 30 per cent to 80 per cent cheaper than branded drugs.

For example, generic drug paracetamol 650 mg at a government Jan Aushadi Kendra will cost just Rs 15. However, a branded drug of the same composition may cost anywhere between Rs 29 and Rs 33.

In a statement, the IMA had earlier demanded that the guidelines on generic drugs be deferred, saying the quality of all generic medicine was not the same.

"In India, less than 0.1 per cent of the drugs manufactured are tested for quality. This step should be deferred till the government can assure the quality of all the drugs released into the market," the IMA had stated.

Apart from generic medicines, the NMC regulations allow doctors to refuse treatment to abusive, unruly, or violent patients and relatives. Guidelines on doctors' professional conduct and interactions on social media have also been released.