Max Bupa Group Contend Over Generic Drug Prescription

Max Bupa Health Insurance, New Delhi for reimbursement of claims has asked hospitals to prescribe medicines only with their generic names The notice is actionable with immediate effect. The Hospitals has been warned by the Max Group stating that there can be retrospective audit of those claims where there are no justifications given for prescription of branded drugs. However this notice has angered hospitals who are contemplating legal action against Max for “dictating” what a doctor should prescribe. “We wish to bring to your notice that Right to choose the generic drugs or brands vests with the registered medical practitioner and not with chemists or any insurance company. The MCI guideline does not make it mandatory that every physician must prescribe in generic…” said Dr R V Asokan, chairman of The Indian Medical Association Hospital Board of India, (IMA HBI) the lobby group of hospital chains in India.