It might be difficult to implement compulsory prescription of generics

The enforcement by the drug regulator will not be easy given the shortage of drug inspectors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to defeat the doctor-pharmaceutical company nexus and make medicines affordable by making it compulsory to prescribe drugs in the generic name.

But, the good intentions may not give the desired results. The enforcement will not be easy given the shortage of drug inspectors.

At an industry event at Surat last month, Modi announced plans for a new law to make generic prescriptions mandatory. Parallelly the government is already initiating steps to push for generic prescriptions. In a recent communication to all the states, the Centre has asked states to make sure all physicians write generic