Reports: Amitava Banerjee
A prescription audit at the Darjeeling Sadar Hospital by the District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC), Darjeeling revealed that majority contained names of branded drugs instead of their generic counterparts. The DCPC has asked the hospital superintendent to look into this.
According to the Medical Council of India guidelines, “All physicians should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names. He / she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”
The West Bengal government too has asked doctors in government-run hospitals and health centres to prescribe generic drugs. To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
In order to promote generic drugs, the state government has opened up fair price shops. Generic medicines can be procured at a 48% rebate on the maximum retail price.
The DCPC comprising of members from different government departments conducted an inspection at the hospital and the fair price shop in the hospital premises on Tuesday morning. The district magistrate is the chairman of the committee.
“When we checked the prescriptions generated from the out-patient department (OPD) we saw that in most cases generic medicines were not being prescribed. Our visit to the fair price shop also revealed that many of the generic medicines were not available. We have asked the shop to make available these generic medicines,” said Kausik Bhattachariya, ADM, Darjeeling.
Anand Moktan, in-charge of the fair price shop, said that 142 generic medicines are dispensed from fair price shops. “However, doctors mostly prescribe branded drugs,” he said.
Later the DCPC visited the hospital superintendent and requested him to look into the matter. The superintendent was told to ensure that doctors adhere to the Medical Council of India’s guidelines by prescribing generic drugs.
“For years Doctors have been prescribing branded drugs. However, we are constantly telling them to prescribe generic medicines. Around 70% of doctors are prescribing generic drugs. In cases of single composition drug it is easy to write. However at times it is difficult to remember combination drugs. The doctors are trying,” said Dr Saikat Pradhan, Superintendent, DarjeelingSadar Hospital.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, which had met in June 2010 to discuss the status of using drugs in generic names, found that doctors in Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra were flouting norms and prescribing branded drugs. Health Department officials claim that Rajasthan, Delhi and some southern states are way ahead of West Bengal in prescribing generic drugs.
FLOUTING RULES
According to the Medical Council of India guidelines, “All physicians should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names. He / she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”
The West Bengal government too has asked doctors in government-run hospitals and health centres to prescribe generic drugs. To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
In order to promote generic drugs, the state government has opened up fair price shops. Generic medicines can be procured at a 48% rebate on the maximum retail price.
Source: Hindustan Times
A prescription audit at the Darjeeling Sadar Hospital by the District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC), Darjeeling revealed that majority contained names of branded drugs instead of their generic counterparts. The DCPC has asked the hospital superintendent to look into this.
The West Bengal government too has asked doctors in government-run hospitals and health centres to prescribe generic drugs. To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
In order to promote generic drugs, the state government has opened up fair price shops. Generic medicines can be procured at a 48% rebate on the maximum retail price.
The DCPC comprising of members from different government departments conducted an inspection at the hospital and the fair price shop in the hospital premises on Tuesday morning. The district magistrate is the chairman of the committee.
“When we checked the prescriptions generated from the out-patient department (OPD) we saw that in most cases generic medicines were not being prescribed. Our visit to the fair price shop also revealed that many of the generic medicines were not available. We have asked the shop to make available these generic medicines,” said Kausik Bhattachariya, ADM, Darjeeling.
Anand Moktan, in-charge of the fair price shop, said that 142 generic medicines are dispensed from fair price shops. “However, doctors mostly prescribe branded drugs,” he said.
Later the DCPC visited the hospital superintendent and requested him to look into the matter. The superintendent was told to ensure that doctors adhere to the Medical Council of India’s guidelines by prescribing generic drugs.
“For years Doctors have been prescribing branded drugs. However, we are constantly telling them to prescribe generic medicines. Around 70% of doctors are prescribing generic drugs. In cases of single composition drug it is easy to write. However at times it is difficult to remember combination drugs. The doctors are trying,” said Dr Saikat Pradhan, Superintendent, DarjeelingSadar Hospital.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, which had met in June 2010 to discuss the status of using drugs in generic names, found that doctors in Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra were flouting norms and prescribing branded drugs. Health Department officials claim that Rajasthan, Delhi and some southern states are way ahead of West Bengal in prescribing generic drugs.
FLOUTING RULES
According to the Medical Council of India guidelines, “All physicians should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names. He / she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”
The West Bengal government too has asked doctors in government-run hospitals and health centres to prescribe generic drugs. To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
To keep check, the health directorate has also been conducting prescription audits in state-run hospitals.
In order to promote generic drugs, the state government has opened up fair price shops. Generic medicines can be procured at a 48% rebate on the maximum retail price.
Source: Hindustan Times
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