Based on the health ministry’s gazette notification issued on September 21, the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Monday issued a circular asking doctors across India to prescribe drugs rationally and
Based on the health ministry’s gazette notification issued on September 21, the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Monday issued a circular asking doctors across India to prescribe drugs rationally and write names of medicines along with their generic names in capital letters.
The health ministry’s earlier notification asked doctors to prescribe medicines in capital letters to make them “legible”. This notification read: “Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.” It was issued to amend the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulation 2002.
According to Dr Shivkumar Utture, executive director, Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), “It is an assertive move from the state government that MCI has followed. This was earlier mentioned in the MCI notification, but awareness is still needed. This is going to help patients get medicines at affordable rates. The only concern is that the medicines should be of genuine quality. FDA should also act as a watchdog to prevent irregularities.”
India is one of the world’s largest markets for irrational Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs). FDCs worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 crore are sold in India every year, according to experts.
