"Prescription is decided by the doctor, but the brand of medicine should be chosen by the patient with the help of a pharmacist, based on the patient’s income."
🔍 1. Role of the Doctor:
Doctors are responsible for diagnosing the illness and prescribing the generic name of the medicine (e.g., Paracetamol, Amoxicillin).
This ensures that the treatment is medically appropriate and based on clinical judgment.
💊 2. Role of the Pharmacist:
A qualified pharmacist is trained in pharmacology, drug interactions, and therapeutic alternatives.
In #communitypharmacy practice, pharmacists help patients choose from available brands of the prescribed generic medicine.
They consider:
1. Patient’s income level
2.Availability of brands
3. Quality and reputation of manufacturers
Patient preferences (e.g., tablet size, packaging, ease of use)
👥 3. Role of the Patient:
The patient has the right to be informed and involved in the decision-making process.
With guidance from the pharmacist, the patient can select a brand that is affordable and effective, rather than being forced to buy a specific brand that may be expensive or unavailable.
⚖️ 4. Legal and Ethical Basis:
According to Pharmacy Practice Regulations and Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence in India:
Doctors are encouraged to prescribe generic names.
Pharmacists are legally allowed to dispense any brand of the prescribed generic, unless the prescription explicitly prohibits substitution.
This model promotes rational drug use, cost-effectiveness, and patient empowerment.
This model promotes rational drug use, cost-effectiveness, and patient empowerment.
It reduces healthcare costs and ensures access to essential medicines for all income groups.
This approach aligns with the principles of community pharmacy, where:
Doctors diagnose and prescribe generics.
Pharmacists guide brand selection.
Patients make informed choices based on affordability and need.
It promotes transparency, accessibility, and collaborative care—the foundation of a strong healthcare system.
Thanks
Rohit Gupta, Pharma Expert
In India, big pharmaceutical companies are struggling to do business compared to small, room-based local companies. Everyone knows the reason money matters more than quality. That's why patients should choose their medicine brands with the help of registered pharmacists (RPh).
In which book: brand names of medicines given, and how do Drs decide their quality, Is there any specific subject available, If No, then please prescribe Gen-medicines
ऐसा कौन सा ब्रांड प्रिस्क्राइब किया जाता है जो सिर्फ़ अस्पताल या क्लिनिक में ही मिलता है? समझ नहीं आया। क्या इनोवेटर्स का कोई नया ब्रांड आ गया है? अगर हाँ, तो कृपया जानकारी दें।😃
Brands matter because of quality, agreed. But why so many doctors prescribing branded products from local companies instead of Indian MNCs or global MNCs, I really don’t understand the logic. Poor-quality medicines are harming innocent patients.
POV: Rohit Gupta
