A government doctor at Mata Kaushalya Hospital, Patiala was allegedly caught prescribing medicines with brand names, instead of a generic name, thus ignoring the guidelines of the state government. He is a senior paediatrician, employed under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and was caught red-handed, prescribing medicines with brand names to the poor patients. The prescribed medicines, worth Rs 800 were not available at the hospital and Jan Aushadhi centre. However, the said medicines were available at a ‘specific’ chemist shop only — outside the hospital.

The experts said according to theprevalent modus operandi of the said connection, doctors prescribe costly medicines to the patients owing to their alliance with pharmaceutical companies. The poor patients have to bear the brunt of the expensive medicines prescribed by these doctors.

It was more surprising, the medicines prescribed by the doctor in question could not be read by the pharmacist at the hospital and Patiala Civil Surgeon himself. But, the chemist, immediately, understood the said medicine.

A large number of patients at the Mata Kuashalya Hospital come from rural areas and a majority of them are poverty-stricken and cannot afford the medicines of popular brand often sold at exorbitant prices. The patients at the hospital claimed that substitute salts of the said medicines prescribed by the doctors were cost-effective and free at the hospital pharmacy only.

One of the activists said that the Health Department should decide to act proactively to ensure that patients are not cheated and they do not fall prey to money-making marketing practices of such drug companies.

In the meantime, Medical Superintendent, Mata Kaushalya, Dr Renu, said that the said doctor comes under Patiala Civil Surgeon, and they have already written to him (Civil Surgeon) to shift the said doctor- immediately.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra, said that he had already written to the MD, NRHM, to take action and no doctor is allowed to prescribe brand names of the medicines.

Source: The Tribune