Govt for clear provision in law to promote generic drugs

Government today said it is planning to bring in a clear provision in the law to promote generic drugs.
"The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has envisaged bringing in a clear provision in the law with the objective of promoting generic drugs," Union Health and Family Welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told Rajya Sabha in reply to a written query.
He said the ministry has invited comments from stakeholders on amending rules pertaining to conditions for grant of renewal of licences for manufacture of drugs to facilitate approval of drug formulations by state licensing authorities in their proper/generic name only.

The Centre has also asked the states and Union Territories to formulate time-bound action plan for promotion of general drugs, Azad said.
He said circulars have also been issued to encourage and motivate doctors to prescribe generic drugs.