NMC regulations making mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic drugs ‘held back’

After a controversy erupted over the new regulations that made mandatory for registered medical practitioners (RMP) to prescribe only generic medicines and preventing them from accepting gifts from pharma companies or endorsing any drug brands, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Thursday put on hold that regulations and said “held in abeyance with immediate effect”.

“That National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations,

2023, are hereby held in abeyance with immediate effect”, said NMC in a notification on Thursday.

The NMC had issued the Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023, were published on August 2 that led to uproar in the pharmaceutical industry and among doctors. 

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) had expressed concern over the NMC making it mandatory to prescribe generic medicines saying this was not feasible because of the uncertainty about their quality.

“The ill-advised steps taken by NMC on the issue of Generic Drugs is an emergency. The regulation is mandatory for doctors to prescribe only generic drugs. It is a matter of great concern for IMA since this directly impacts patients’ care and safety”, Indian Medical Association had said after the notification was issued by NMC.

The members of the IMA and IPA had met union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday and expressed their concerns over the regulations.

Terming NMC’s step of putting regulations on hold as Grand Victory, the IMA said, “It’s a triumph that showcases the power of collective efforts, and it reinforces the significance of our association”.