Doctors cock a snook at MCI norms

Mahbubnagar: Even after the Medical Council of India (MCI) issued clear instructions, to registered doctors practising medicine, on generic medicine and writing prescriptions in legible manner not many doctors seem to follow the orders.

Particularly in Mahbubnagar, doctors irrespective of public and private hospitals continue to write prescriptions in squiggle. The illegible manner of the prescription is only understood by the pharmacists who the doctor advises to approach. If in case of emergency, the patient approaches another pharmacy store, they refuse to give the medicines prescribed due to writing problem.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised the doctors to promote generic medicines and to write prescriptions in generic names but not many doctors follow the instructions and continue to prescribe branded names of the medicines.

“The business link between a doctor and pharmacists is an open secret. If we want to bring a change in one or two days, it is impossible without a continuous campaign and regular awareness programmes among the general public on the generic medicines.

The doctors’ community should also apply their wisdom and must come out voluntarily to support the cause of a large good and help the poor to get better quality healthcare at affordable costs,” opined Dr Moses, President of Depressed Rural Development Social Organisation.

In Mahbubnagar district, there are currently less than five generic medical stores and even in those the availability of generic medicines is limited. Most of the pharmacy stores claim to sell generic medicines, but sometime they are also forced to sell branded medicines due to the shortage of stocks.

“Most of the pharmacy stores prefer to sell branded drugs because the profit margin is 70 per cent. Moreover, the suppliers of generic medicines are also very less which leads to the stocks draining fast,” a pharmacists said on anonymity.

Generic medicines and branded medicines have the same quantity and quality of drugs and the chemical formula is also same but however, the branded drugs have a greater share of exposure by way of advertising and promotion among the doctors through medical representatives. All these endorsement activities add up to the actual cost of the medicine which the patient has to bear.

In view of this, the State and Central governments have been encouraging the use of generic medicines through Jan aushadhi and Jeevan dhara programmes. However, the ground realities contradict the government’s objectives.

“To promote generic medicines we are contemplating to take steps and are even directing government doctors to prescribe only generic medicines to the patients. We will ensure that every doctor, both in public and private hospitals, follows the MCI norm.

And, if the norm is violated then we shall take necessary action against such doctors,” said Dr Srinivas, District Medical and Health Officer, Mahbubnagar.