Docs told to prescribe medicines available with govt pharmacy only

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 26

In a fresh order, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), associated with Government Medical College here, has directed all its doctors to only prescribe medicines which are available with the government pharmacy.

The orders have been issued after some patients complained that a few doctors prescribed medicines manufactured by specific companies, which were only available with select medical stores.

The hospital authorities stated that the orders were aimed at cutting the expenses of poor patients, who had to purchase medicines from private chemists if these were prescribed by hospital doctors.

A hospital official said the government had initiated schemes to provide free medicines to all patients attending OPD services. However, a few doctors had been prescribing medicines manufactured by private pharmacies.

A practising doctor, however, said, “In view of public welfare, the doctors have to often prescribe medicines manufactured by private companies as government supply is not adequate and sometimes, their quality is not very good.” He said for a doctor, the benefit of the patient was the most important thing.

However, the fact that a few doctors are indulging in malpractices by prescribing medicines of a particular manufacturer in lieu of commission, cannot be denied as numerous complaints have been received by the hospital.

Medical superintendent Ram Sarup Sharma said the new orders were aimed at proving better services to patients as doctors were required to prescribe only those medicines which were available with the hospital. He said the orders would help in reducing the medical expenses of poor patients.