PM Modi Hints at Rules for Doctors to Prescribe Generic Drugs

PM Narendra Modi said that it is the government’s responsibility to provide health services to all at a minimal price. (Photo: The Quint)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indicated that his government may bring in a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines, which are cheaper than equivalent branded drugs, to patients.

He said the government has implemented the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna’, where people get generic medicines from stores at reasonable rates.

Modi said his government brought in a health policy after 15 years and capped the prices of medicines and stents, which has angered some pharmaceutical companies.

Doctors write prescriptions in such a way that poor people do not understand the handwriting, and he has to buy that medicine from private stores at high prices... We will bring in a legal framework by which if a doctor writes a prescription, he has to write in it that it will be enough for patients to buy generic medicine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

“It is the government’s responsibility that everybody should get health services at minimal price,” he further said.

“Companies which are manufacturing medicines used to charge Rs 1,200 for an injection. We called everyone (pharma companies) and ensured that the prices are reduced. The prices of 700 medicines were capped so that poor people get medicines at reasonable rates when they face grave diseases,” Modi informed.

“We have also capped the prices of stents used in heart ailments,” he added.

Modi also stressed on preventive healthcare saying if people adopt it, they will not have to visit hospitals.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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