Call for branded drugs to be phased out in India

Doctors and public health groups in India have come up with the suggestion that the government should work for the gradual phasing out of branded drugs in a calibrated manner along with the abolition of differential pricing under different brands to give a push to generic drug prescriptions, noted Brand India Pharma, an initiative led by Pharmexcil (Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council) and IBEF (India Brand Equity Foundation) under the aegis of the Department of Commerce.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently announced that the government was looking at a legal framework ensuring mandatory prescription of low cost generic medicines by doctors. Following the announcement, the Medical Council of India has stated that doctors should only prescribe generic medicines.

The proposal for mandatory prescription of generic medicines would, however, be useless and counterproductive if it is carried out as a stand-alone measure, according to the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN). Phasing out of the branded drugs should be done gradually so that not only the doctors but also pharmacists are not able to promote specific brands.