Posted By :  Admin1

In the latest communication issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), there has been a decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of the recently published "National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023." This suspension is effective immediately. The NMC has clarified that until a further Gazette Notification on the subject is issued by the NMC, these regulations will not be in effect.

This step has been taken by the NMC in response to concerns raised by various doctors' organizations about certain aspects of the guidelines, which are anticipated to have unfavorable repercussions.

Earlier this week, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a meeting that included the Chairman of the NMC, the Union Health Secretary, representatives from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Director General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The purpose of this meeting was to address the reservations expressed about certain points within the NMC Regulations.

While several points have been deemed acceptable and necessary, certain points have necessitated modifications. The IMA has been voicing its opposition to the directive aiming to make the prescription of generic drugs mandatory. In the interest of enhancing the quality of healthcare provided to the citizens, the IMA had appealed for a postponement of this initiative until the government can guarantee the quality of all drugs introduced into the market. The IMA further suggested that instead of adopting the NMC Route, the government should pursue a pharmaceutical approach and prohibit the sale of all branded drugs. The concern is that the government currently permits various categories of drugs, including branded and branded generics, and allows pharmaceutical companies to sell the same product at different prices. This situation could potentially lead to pharmacies dispensing medicines that offer them higher financial gains, without adequately considering the aspect of quality.