Guj yet to implement Central order on branded drugs

IDMA says move to affect patients taking representation to Health ministry

As Maharashtra acted on Centre's directive to impose ban on issuing licenses to manufacture and sale of branded drugs from October 20, it is a matter of time for the same to happen in Gujarat.

The state Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) is yet to implement the ban as it has not received any official communication from the Union Health ministry.

H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA, said, "We are yet to receive any written order and till then will have to wait to implement the ban." Echoing the same, a state health department official informed that the department is yet to receive any official intimation on the matter from the Union ministry.  

In an order dated October 1, the Union Health Ministry has asked all state health departments to issue licenses to manufacture and sell drugs on the basis of generic names and not brands or trade names.

"The order has been posted on the ministry's website, but would be officially sent to all state health secretaries and eventually all states would follow suit", said a senior state government official. 

Meanwhile, the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) has decided to take a representation to Delhi on the issue. It held series of meetings with its members during the weekend, and has decided to present its case before the Union Health Ministry. 

Chirag Doshi, chairman, IDMA, Gujarat State Board said, "As per the notification, licensing would be issued only on the basis of generic name. On a broader sense, this would mean that patients would suffer, as doctors would prescribe generic names and the retailer or pharmacist would choose which medicine to give the patient. The same composition would be available from different companies, and the efficacies would also vary." 

He also added that there is no clarity in the order with respect to imported medicines.

"Medicines that are imported into the country carry brand names. There is no clarity on that front as well. We are working on readying a draft and will make a representation before the ministry next week", Doshi said. 

Currently, around one lakh branded drugs are currently sold in Gujarat, Koshia said. The state accounts for nearly one-third of the country's pharma production.

"The ministry has taken a decision without consulting the stakeholders. Such a move is only likely to prove to be detrimental to the industry's growth here.", an IDMA official alleged.