Agartala, Dec 16 (TIWN): As per the guideline of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulation- 2002) use of generic names of drugs in prescription by the doctors became mandatory unless there is no such generic medicine items available in the stores.

Apart from this guideline, the High Court of Tripura on WP(C) (PIL) 01 of 2013 on September 10 and 24, 2013, July 14, 2014 and lastly on November 11, 2014 instructed the concerned authority to issue instructions to the doctors working in the government hospitals or in their private clinic unless there is no generic drug of the type available.

Besides, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department in his earlier memorandum dated April 28, 2014 requested all the physicians to prescribe medicines with generic items as much as possible. But a section of doctors are still maintaining to prescribe ‘branded’ medicines even after huge availability of generic drug items. As a result, people are unwillingly bound to accept ‘branded’ medicines prescribed by the doctors.

Therefore, in a memorandum of Health and Family Welfare Department undersigned Health Director SR Debbarma, all the medical officers, registered medical practitioners under the Indian Medical Council Act are further directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions of regulations and memorandum without fail.

To ensure the availability of quality medicines at affordable prices to all, the Dept of Pharmaceutical, Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers decided to lunch in 2008 a nation-wide campaign viz ‘Jan Aushadhi’ as a direct market intervention strategy. On behalf of the Dept of Pharmaceuticals, an independent society named the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) implementing the ‘Jan Aushadhi’ scheme since December, 2008. Under this scheme, the Tripura Markfed employees are managing the three generic stores at AGMC and GBP, IGM and TMC hospitals, with the assistance and guidance from the Health and Family Welfare Department.