Generic Medicines Addition
In addition to the earliest list of medicines, new 31 generic medicines have been included in the list for free distribution among OPD patients.
In order to prevent doctors from prescribing branded medicines and to promote generic medicines in clinical practice, the AIIMS has advised doctors to consign generic medicines.The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which already provides more than 150 generic medicines for free to its OPD patients, has included 31 more medicines in its free distribution list.
On November 19th, 2014, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) has added 31 new generic medicines in the free distribution lists among the patients. In a letter to consultants and doctors, the hospital administration said, “in addition to the earlier list of medicines, 31 new generic medicines have been included for free distribution to OPD (out-patient department) patients.” The letter further described, “All doctors in AIIMS are hereby advised to advise the new medicines in addition to the earliest list circulated”. As per Medical Council of India direction, “It is once again requested to prescribe generic medicines only as far as possible.”
A source said that generic medicines play a powerful role in intellectual prescribing, reducing treatment costs and improving patient care at the same time. Thus, with the addition of 31 more generic medicines in the list, the total number of generic medicines has raised to 221 from earlier 190.
Generic or non-patented drugs are available in two versions. The first one is those which is sold under their generic or chemical composition name i.e. paracetamol. The other is those which are sold by drug manufacturers under brand-names.