Pharmacies told to display generic drugs

Mumbai: The Central health ministry has directed pharmacies to display generic medicines shelves conspicuously so that consumers can opt for low-cost alternatives to expensive branded drugs. The Centre’s move seeks to encourage the use of generic drugs. The government has been promoting these drugs and announcing plans to put in place a legal framework to ensure doctors prescribe generic medicines since April last year.

Now, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a letter to all states and Union territories to provide a shelf for display of generic medicines. S. Eswara Reddy, DCGI, said, “A decision in this regard was taken by the government’s Drug Technical Advisory Board and communicated to all state governments.”

“It has been decided that every retail outlet should provide for a separate shelf or rack reserved exclusively for stocking of generic medicines in the licensed premises separated fr-om other medicines, which shall be visible to the consumer,” Mr Reddy said.

Chemists, however, state that the move would have a small impact given the limited production of generic medicines.