Medical Council backs brand names in prescriptions

The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) the country’s apex body representing the medical profession, has told the Health Minister that the Council is of the opinion that it is quite in order for the brand name of a drug to be included with the generic name, as provided for in the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act of 1992.

In a letter signed by Council Registrar Dr. N. J. Nonis the Council has told the Health Minister that: “When a doctor prescribes a drug, he must be certain in his own mind that the drug has the desired effect, without deleterious side effects. This responsibility cannot be delegated to pharmacists.

Who ultimately will take the responsibility? Will it be the prescribing doctor, or the dispensing pharmacist or sales person? There is a serious shortage of pharmacists in the country and it would be still worse if the responsibility is given to an unqualified, unregistered person.”

The letter follows a decision taken by the Council at a meeting on 4th January 4 to write to the Health Minister regarding a statement made by him and broadcast on television to the effect that doctors who prescribe drugs by brand name would be imprisoned.

“We are appalled,” the Council states, “that a Minister of Health should threaten doctors with imprisonment for prescribing drugs using their brand names. There are many crimes that may need imprisonment but this does not warrant such punishment. It is very unlikely that a Minister of Health in a civilised country would castigate doctors in this manner.”

The Council has pointed out that it has instructed doctors to follow the procedure of writing the generic name of the drug when prescribing with the brand name within parenthesis as required by regulations under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act published in the Government Gazette of 6th July 1992.