Government today said prescription of generic medicines has been made compulsory in the government hospitals. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Ananth Kumar said, the Health Ministry has sent an advisory to the government hospitals in this connection. <br/><br/>Replying to a media query, Mr Kumar said the government is committed to promote use of generic medicines and will bring amendments in Drug and Cosmetic Act soon. <br/><br/>Asked some doctors are still not prescribing the generic medicines despite Medical Council of India order, the Minister said doctors will be pursued to do so. He said, it now now must for all pharma companies to specify name of generic medicine along with brand name. The Minister said to ensure high quality, only companies certified by WHO GMP can supply medicines to Jan Aushadhi Kendras. <br/> <br/>Mr Kumar said health security is a very important priority of our Government and JanAushadhi Scheme is a key achievement of Government during the last three years. He said this Scheme is creating a silent revolution in health security status of the country. He said, government is committed to provide health security to the people of the especially poor section of the society. He said citizens are being provided generic medicines at affordable prices at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana-PMBJK. The Minister said, 29 states and 419 districts have been covered under PMBJK. <br/> <br/>The Minister said Jan Aushadhi Scheme also gives self-employment opportunity to unemployed pharmacists and 30,000 pharmacists have applied for Kendras. Mr Kumar said government is trying to build a network of generic medicines. He said government want to make generic medicines widely available, like PDS centers. He said the goal of Government is to take Jan Aushadhi Kendras to every block of country. Mr Kumar said the Kendras will be opened in 1000 major railway stations, bus stations and in other locations. He said 3000 Kendras will be opened in the country, in 2017.