The government aims to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by March to improve the common man’s access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. Since June 30, 9,512 PMBJKs have been opened across the country.
The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, prescribe that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, he said in a written response to a question in the House.
The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Centre-run hospitals to prescribe only generic medicines. Similar instructions have also been issued to all CGHS doctors and wellness centres. Under the free drug initiative of the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided for the provision of essential generic drugs free of charge in public health facilities. In order to promote the PMBJP scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of the scheme, periodically requests state and UT governments and district administrations to create awareness about the scheme and provide rent free space for opening Janaushadhi Kendras in Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and government hospitals. He also said that the CDSCO and Ministry of Health have taken several regulatory measures to ensure the quality of medicines in the country.
Certain offences have also been made cognisable and non-bailable. States and UTs have set up special courts for the trial of offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for speedy disposal, he said. The number of sanctioned posts in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has significantly increased in last 10 years, Mandaiya said.
