Overview

• The Supreme Court observed that doctors across India should be required to prescribe only generic medicines instead of branded drugs.
• The remarks were made during a hearing of a PIL filed by FMSRAI, which challenges unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices and invokes the Right to Health under Article 21.
• The Court noted Rajasthan's existing directive mandating generic prescriptions and suggested extending such measures nationwide.
• Petitioners alleged that pharmaceutical companies spend heavily on promotions and bribes to push overpriced drugs, citing the example of Rs 1,000 crore spent on freebies by a major drug manufacturer.
• The Court emphasized that a nationwide generic prescription mandate could reduce medical costs, curb overuse, and combat drug dependence, with the next hearing scheduled for July 2025.