Taking a step forward to give a boost to the affordable generic medicines, the central government has decided to make it mandatory for all pharmacies to display generic drugs on a separate shelf. The action will, however, prove to be an exercise in futility unless there are changes in the regulatory mechanism and chemists are allowed to suggest generic products to patients in place of medications prescribed by doctors, they said.The government is taking various steps to promote the use of generic medicines in the country. In a continuation of this trend to push for the use of costeffective generic medicines, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) has now written to all state regulators asking them to ensure that every retail pharmacy store maintains a separate rack specifically for generic drugs.The central regulatory body has issued a circular issued to all drug controllers to this effect. The drugs controller general of India, Dr S Eswara Reddy, stated, “It has been decided that every retail outlet should provide for a separate shelf or rack reserved exclusively for stocking generic medicines on its licensed premises.”Though the chemists are annoyed and remain doubtful about the effectiveness of the new measure, the DCGI’s action is not a bolt from the blue. The step was recommended by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the country’s highest drug advisory body on technical matters, at its meeting in February. DCGI directed state regulators to ensure that generic medicines are visible to consumers.Kailas Tandale, president, Maharashtra Registered Pharmacists’ Association (MRPA), said, “The circular regarding the boost to generic medicines is a good decision, but a single circular will not meet the requirement. The doctors, who prescribe the medicines to the patients, should also write the name of the salt after which we can give the alternative generic medicines to the patients. Many times the poor patients who do not even have the capacity to pay for branded medicines cannot go for the generic medicines even if it is available. As the chemist does not have the powers to substitute the branded medicines we do not suggest them.”Tandale added, “The chemist should be empowered to substitute the branded drug with the generic ones. Even if the medicines are displayed in a separate rack, patients have to be ready to go for them.”

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