No. 5-11025/45/10-MH-I
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Directorate General of Health Services
(Medical Hospital-I Section)
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 26th May, 2010
ORDER
It has been observed that Doctors in the Central Government hospitals and autonomous institutions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare prescribe specific brands of medicines quite often with a rider that no substitute should, be supplied. Instances have also come to notice where the prescribed drug was very expensive and cheaper substitutes were available. However, the patient did not have any choice but to procure the prescribed drug.
The matter has been considered by the Competent Authority. It is observed that generic drugs are usually much cheaper than branded drugs. Therefore, Central Government hospitals must provide only good quality generic medicines. It has, therefore, been decided that whenever any branded drug is prescribed in the above mentioned institutions, it shall invariably also be mentioned that any other equivalent generic drug could also be provided. For instance, if the prescription is for Tablet Crocin, then the prescription should read as ‘Tab Crocin’ or any other equivalent generic drug. The hospital would then give the flexibility of providing generic equivalents of the prescribed medicine.
It has also been decided that henceforth the prescription will be regularly monitored in Dte.G.H.S. to verify compliance with these instructions.
(Dr.Arvind Thergaonkar )
Additional Dupty Director General (M)
