CDSCO Proposes Regulations On Confusing Drug Brand Names
CDSCO invites public comments on proposal to regulate brand name extensions. Aimed at reducing medication errors and improving patient safety.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has proposed regulations on the use of brand name extensions by pharmaceutical companies to reduce medication errors and strengthen patient safety. The proposal, which is currently open for public comments, aims to address the issue of companies marketing different medicines under the same established brand name with different suffixes or extensions.
This practice, according to CDSCO, can confuse doctors, pharmacists, and patients, increasing the risk of medication errors. The issue was discussed at the 6th Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting on November 17, 2025, where members recommended a wider stakeholder consultation before any policy decision.
CDSCO has uploaded the proposal on its website and invited comments from pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, consumer groups, and the public by July 17, 2026. A brand name extension refers to the use of a common brand name with suffixes such as 'DSR', 'AM', 'H', 'CV', or 'Forte'. While these products may appear related, they often contain different active ingredients or drug combinations and are not interchangeable.
If clearer norms are introduced, patients and their families stand to benefit significantly. Elderly patients and those taking multiple medicines for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease often rely on brand names to identify their medicines. Similar-sounding names can result in the wrong medicine being purchased or consumed, leading to treatment failure, adverse drug reactions, or duplicate therapy.
Caregivers buying medicines for children or ageing parents would also find prescriptions easier to understand, reducing the chances of dispensing errors. Pharmacists would benefit from greater clarity while dispensing medicines, while doctors could face fewer prescription-related misunderstandings.
Health experts say clearer brand naming practices would improve patient awareness, reduce avoidable medication errors, and promote safer use of medicines, while balancing pharmaceutical branding with the primary objective of protecting public health. The proposal is a significant step towards improving patient safety and reducing medication errors in India.
The public comment period provides an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input on the proposal and help shape the final regulations. The CDSCO's initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the healthcare sector, particularly for patients who rely on brand names to identify their medicines.
In the coming weeks, the CDSCO will review the comments received and consider them while finalizing the regulations. The introduction of clearer norms on brand name extensions is expected to be a significant step towards improving patient safety and reducing medication errors in India.
The proposal is a testament to the CDSCO's commitment to protecting public health and promoting safer use of medicines. The regulator's efforts to engage with stakeholders and solicit public comments demonstrate its dedication to creating effective regulations that balance the needs of pharmaceutical companies with the need to protect patient safety.
