The Health Ministry issued Monday the National Drug Index for Lebanon and said it lists medicines by both their generic and brand names, helping both doctors and pharmacists, the National News Agency reported. The ministry circulated the index to all institutions and associations working in this sector. “The index gives the pharmacist ... the ability to choose substitutes in filling prescriptions in a way that takes into account the patient’s means and the interest of the health insurance company,” it said in a statement. It added that the index assists doctors, especially in determining the proper prescription. “It offers information on generic and brand names of drugs registered in Lebanon, the manufacturing country of the drug, the date of production, the name of the factory, and the drug’s price as listed in the ministry,” it added.