Allow prescribing both generic, brand names: Pharma lobby, doctors to govt

The pharmaceutical industry and doctors on Monday met central government representatives in Delhi and advocated for allowing writing both generic (molecule) and brand names for drugs along in prescriptions, sources said. 

In a two-hour long meeting, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), apex body of Indian medical professionals with around 400,000 doctors, and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) discussed new regulations issued by the National Medical Council (NMC) mandating the doctors to prescribe only generic medicines. 

A senior IMA official told Business Standard that the meeting was productive, and the government had taken note of the suggestions. “The doctors and industry have suggested that brand names should be mentioned in the prescription along with writing the molecule name. Otherwise,