Pharma Inc in a huddle after fresh NMC norms

Says prescription of generic drugs could impact quality and patient safety

- SOHINI DAS

With the National Medical Commission (NMC) making it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic names for drugs, pharma industry groups are in a huddle over questions of quality and safety.

A senior executive of a prominent lobby group said the fresh regulations were being examined. "If doctors prescribe only generic molecule names, then there may be an issue with quality. With a branded generic there comes a quality assurance and thus this is critical for patient safety," the person said.

"There are over 10,000 manufacturers of medicines in the country, and not all of them follow the same quality guidelines. Therefore, with such a move, who takes responsibility for quality and patient safety will the doctor be accountable?" he added. Further, once the doctor prescribes the molecule name, the chemist will choose which brand to give the patient, said pharma industry insiders.

"Power thus shifts to chemists instead of doctors. Whichever company offers better incentives, the chemist would prefer it," the industry feared.