Staff shortage at regulator to stand in way of generic drugs push

Branded generics occupies 90% of the Rs 1-lakh cr pharma market in India

To break the nexus between pharmaceutical companies and doctors pushing expensive medicines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said last month the government would put in place a legal framework to ensure doctors prescribe generic names of drugs, instead of brands.
 
Recently, the Centre had asked states to make sure physicians write the generic names of drugs in a legible way. Business Standard has reviewed the letter.
 
The government had issued a draft amendment to make it mandatory for companies to carry the generic names on packs in a font bolder than the brand name.
 
But enforcing the