"Sir, the union health minister has said that Deans of all medical colleges have been informed to inform doctors working in those hospitals to prescribe only generic medicines" one colleague said.
"I read about it in the newspaper" I said. "It seems to be the decision made by the medical council to prevent doctors being unethically influenced by pharmaceuticals to prescribe their products."
"But the chemists do not have generic medicines."
"I know" I said.
"So when we write generic names, they will dispense brands they want. So now the pharmaceuticals will woo chemists rather than doctors."
"That sounds likely" another colleague said. "Anyway, some chemists are known to substitute one brand for another- one that gives them greater profit margin."
"But what do they mean by asking us to prescribe generic medicines before making generic medicines available?" someone asked.
"That is to reassure people that measures are taken to curb unethical practices" a cynic said. "Mind you, it is 'measures' without any mention of the effectiveness. People want to hear something, and when they hear that, they get satisfied and move on to another topic."
I had heard the preceding arguments from different people before, but that last thing about psychology of people was a new one.
"There is nothing to worry about" someone else said. "The Deans have not informed any doctors to do so yet. And even when the doctors are so informed, there is no machinery in place to check if they follow instructions, or to take action on doctors who don't comply."
There were a few knowing smiles at this.
"I read about it in the newspaper" I said. "It seems to be the decision made by the medical council to prevent doctors being unethically influenced by pharmaceuticals to prescribe their products."
"But the chemists do not have generic medicines."
"I know" I said.
"So when we write generic names, they will dispense brands they want. So now the pharmaceuticals will woo chemists rather than doctors."
"That sounds likely" another colleague said. "Anyway, some chemists are known to substitute one brand for another- one that gives them greater profit margin."
"But what do they mean by asking us to prescribe generic medicines before making generic medicines available?" someone asked.
"That is to reassure people that measures are taken to curb unethical practices" a cynic said. "Mind you, it is 'measures' without any mention of the effectiveness. People want to hear something, and when they hear that, they get satisfied and move on to another topic."
I had heard the preceding arguments from different people before, but that last thing about psychology of people was a new one.
"There is nothing to worry about" someone else said. "The Deans have not informed any doctors to do so yet. And even when the doctors are so informed, there is no machinery in place to check if they follow instructions, or to take action on doctors who don't comply."
There were a few knowing smiles at this.
