AIIMS doctors bat for generic drugs, ask authorities to make provision for more
NEW DELHI: Resident doctors of the All India Medical Science (AIIMS) here have lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative for prescribing of generic medicines mandatory.
However, the doctors have also requested the hospital administration to open more generic medicines stores and to have more generic medicines available in the Amrit pharmacy in the AIIMS campus.
In a letter to the AIIMS Director, the doctors pointed out that only 230 generic medicines are available in the AIIMS pharmacy, which is insufficient. The doctors have requested inclusion of 53 more generic medicines, which are largely prescribed.
Dr Vijay Gurjar, president, AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association said: “We realised that only one sixth of patients are availing these services. So we must make necessary efforts to promote these medicines.
“However, we request the administration to open a few more outlets of free generic Medicines in AIIMS so that people do not hesitate in availing these services due to overcrowding.”
“However, ensuring the quality of these medicines is a major issue. So if the administration can ensure it, we the doctors can use these medicines without fear,” Gurjar said.
A doctor from the hospital said: “Most of the medicines available are not in combination, which is the need of the hour, to decrease the number of pills for patients. For example, tab Ecosprin-av, which is mostly prescribed in a combination only.”
“We can plan weekly, or at least monthly, meetings for updating the list of generic medicines which are to be made available. It would be quite beneficial for the doctors (faculty, residents and students) as it is always painful to see poor patients paying their hard-earned money for these medicines, which can be availed free of cost with your help,” added the RDA president.