New Delhi: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday issued instructions to all Central Government Hospitals to prescribe only generic medicines to patients, in a bid to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.
Generic medicines are drugs that have the same active ingredients, dosage, strength, quality, and efficacy as their branded counterparts but are sold at lower prices. They are manufactured by different companies after the patent of the original drug expires.
According to the Health Ministry, generic medicines can save up to 90% of the cost of branded drugs and are equally safe and effective. The ministry also said that generic medicines are widely available in Indian pharmacies across cities and states, as well as online platforms.
The Health Minister’s directive came after he reviewed the functioning of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), which provides comprehensive healthcare facilities to Central Government employees and pensioners. He said that prescribing only generic medicines would benefit the CGHS beneficiaries as well as other patients who visit the Central Government Hospitals.
He also instructed the hospitals to ensure adequate availability of generic medicines in their pharmacies and dispensaries and to display their names prominently. He said that hospitals should also educate patients and doctors about the benefits of generic medicines.
The Health Minister’s move is in line with the government’s vision of providing quality healthcare to all at affordable prices. In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), a scheme to provide generic medicines at subsidized rates through a network of outlets across the country. The scheme aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines and improve access to essential drugs for the poor and marginalized sections of society.
