Pharmacists have raised serious concerns over the alleged lack of compliance with government guidelines promoting the prescription of generic medicines, emphasizing that pharmacists play a role as important as doctors in patient care.
According to pharmacists, medicines are dispensed based on doctors’ prescriptions while also considering government regulations, patient needs, and medical conditions. However, it is alleged that many doctors ignore advisory guidelines and continue prescribing branded medicines, reportedly benefiting pharmaceutical companies and personal interests.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for the promotion of affordable generic medicines, the Medical Council of India issued a circular to health authorities across all states directing doctors to strictly follow updated guidelines requiring prescriptions to be written using generic drug names.
Despite these instructions, discussions with pharmacists suggest that compliance remains low. Reports indicate that less than one-tenth of prescriptions received by pharmacists are written using generic names.
Citing examples from three Jan Aushadhi stores in Mumbai, pharmacists noted that more than 600 medicines are still being sold under branded names despite the availability of cheaper generic alternatives. Generic medicines are often available at nearly one-tenth the cost of branded drugs, yet most patients remain unaware of the difference between the two. Additionally, supply issues sometimes prevent patients from accessing generic medicines even when requested.
The council argues that pharmacists’ responsibilities are often overlooked within the healthcare system. While doctors may prescribe medicines generically, multiple manufacturers produce the same drugs at varying prices, creating confusion among patients.
Experts also highlighted that pharmacists can earn margins of up to 60% on certain generic medicines, underlining the need for proper regulation and education of pharmacy professionals. Patients frequently rely on pharmacists for guidance just as they do on doctors.
In this context, healthcare experts believe it is necessary to reduce the influence of pharmaceutical companies on prescribing practices. Former Pharmacy Officer of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, H.S. Babbar, has demanded the full implementation of Pharmacy Council of India regulations to ensure transparency, benefit patients, and eliminate malpractice within the system.
