Hospitals Directed to Prescribe Generic Drugs

The government in Bangalore has directed the doctors at government run hospitals to abstain from prescribing any branded drugs and only prescribe quality low-cost generic drugs which are easily available in all pharmacies and government health centers and hospitals. Officers of the drugs control department will monitor the prescriptions issued by doctors. Except for some rare life saving drugs the government has provided adequate stocks at drug stores across the state, therefore doctors can no longer give any lame excuses like exhausted or shortage of drugs. Bangalore Health minister, B. Siramulu said, "We will initiate strict against those who violate this rule."

Generic drugs have the same potency as that of branded drugs from reputed pharmaceutical companies. However the significantly low cost of these generic drugs makes it more affordable for the masses. This low rate is due to the low manufacturing cost. Popular brands of paracetmol (500mg) cost somewhere around Rs. 10 per strip, while the same medicine costs as low as Rs. 2.45 if the generic variant is chosen over the branded strip. This approach by the Government will help to free the public health system from the stranglehold of various pharmaceutical companies.

Source-Medindia