SC Wants Action Against Doctors Not Prescribing Generic Drugs

New Delhi: While hearing a plea to take disciplinary action against all those doctors who fail to prescribe generic medicines, the Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Centre, states/UTs, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) regarding the matter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud issued notices to the authorities on the petition filed by an advocate Kishan Chand Jain.

The petitioner stated that despite The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, clearly mandating doctors to prescribe only generic medicines, doctors continue to promote expensive branded medicines.

As per the submission of the petitioner, prices of generic medicines (off-patented) can be 50 per cent to 90 per cent lower than those of branded medicines.