Doctors to prescribe generic drugs only or face action, says Baghel

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday called for action against doctors in government hospitals after learning that they were prescribing branded and not generic medicines.

He was holding a review meeting of the Urban Administration and Development Department and the Environment and Housing Department here, an official communication said on Monday.

During a review of the ‘Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store’ scheme, he called for taking strict action against the government doctors prescribing branded medicines.

The Chief Minister was told that despite repeated instructions, doctors were prescribing branded medicines to patients.

Accordingly, the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, wrote to all District Collectors and Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHO), to ensure that doctors prescribed only generic medicines.

The Chief Minister on October 23, 2021 had launched the flagship Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store to provide a 50-70 percent rebate on the maximum retail price of medicines.

The stores have to mandatory sell 251 types of generic medicines and 27 surgical products.

At present, 159 medical stores are operating in the state against a target of 188 in 169 urban bodies. The scheme had benefited 17.92 lakh citizens.