Meet dissects concerns, barriers in prescribing generic drugs by doctors
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 17 2018:
A State level interactive session on prescribing drugs with generic names by physicians, was organised by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch at The Classic Hotel in the backdrop of GoI and MCI's directives to prescribe generic drugs by treating physicians, today.
The idea behind organizing the meet was to come up with means to urge doctors to prescribe drugs with generic names which have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug.
In addition, identification of the concerns and barriers in prescribing generic drugs by doctors; facilitators and barriers from the administration's perspective; and to formulate the best possible approach to benefit all and public at large, were also some of the objectives.
The meet deliberated on the issue and came up with certain resolutions in the interest of the general public.
During the brainstorming session, which was moderated by Brogen Singh Akoijam, president, Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch, a number of concerns like lack of confidence on generic drugs among doctors as well as public, lack of awareness of generic drugs among doctors, inadequate generic drugs and drug stores, etc were identified and deliberated.
Later a few resolutions were adopted which included urging the State Government to create awareness among the public on the quality of generic ' drugs, to urge the authority concerned to make public the list of generic drugs available at present, to sensitize the treating physicians on how and whom to approach for checking the quality of drugs and to sensitize the media on the issue of generic drugs.
The function was also attended by doctors from almost all districts, comprising one from the administration along with a practising doctor, representatives of IMA-MSB and CoNE.
Nongthombam Rimot Kumar Meetei, Additional State Drug Controller, State Drug Control Authority, Government of Manipur, Dr Laikhuram Tomcha Khuman, State Nodal Officer, Quality Assurance (QA), National Health Mission, Manipur, Dr Sasheekumar Mahgang, Additional Director, Public Health (PH), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Manipur, and Dr Chongtham Arunkumar, Medical Superintendent, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) also spoke on various aspects of the issue ranging from regulatory requirements, misconception and barriers in writing generic names of the drugs.