‘War’ ends over generic drugs and brands

By Lakwimashi Perera

Pictures here show a certified pharmacist at The Medical Mall in Maradana dispensing drugs to patients, and (inset) a generic drug with different brand names. Pix by J. Weerasekera.

The recent dispute between Health Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva and medical doctors over the use of generic names in prescriptions has finally been resolved with doctors practising in the private sector being permitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to stick to a regulation invoked 16 years ago which allow doctors to prescribe the generic or brand.

At a recent discussion between the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the President this issue had also been brought out. The GMOA had proposed that the proposed National Drug Policy, drafted by all stakeholders and approved by the Cabinet, be implemented, Dr Anuruddha Padeniya, Secretary of the GMOA, said. According to him implementation of this policy is being delayed by the Health Minister. He told The Sunday Times FT that the President had directed the Health Minister to implement the draft policy. The issue was sparked when Minister de Silva announced a few weeks ago that doctors will be barred from prescribing brand names of drugs and will only be permitted to prescribe generic medicines to patients. This statement angered doctors in the private sector who claimed that the Health Minister cannot arbitrarily declare the prescription of brands illegal. Doctors asked who would take responsibility for lives of patients if only generics were prescribed as many of the pharmacies had unqualified pharmacists.