50 essential meds to be given free?
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20 Jun 2014
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Hindustan Times (Delhi)
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Sanchita Sharma letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: After recently
prescribing some ‘bitter medicine’ to resuscitate the ailing economy, the
Narendra Modi government is, seemingly, working on contours of a social-welfare
healthcare project to sweeten the deal for the citizenry. For starters, the
health ministry’s vision is to provide 50 essential generic medicines, free of
cost, from “birth to death” to all Indians across the nation.
“Fifty basic essential
drugs address 75% of the healthcare needs of the majority, and we plan to make
these available free to everyone, from birth to death,” Union health minister
Harsh Vardhan told HT.
The programme will be
rolled out in phases, beginning with select hospitals across India, with the
objective of reaching every citizen.
Once the rollout is
complete, everyone will get these 50 medicines – including basic treatments for
pain, infection, hypertension, diabetes, etc – complimentary on prescription at
public hospitals and dispensaries.
“A standard list of
medicines will ensure that for the same amount, 35% more medicines of superior
quality can be procured to meet the healthcare needs of the majority,” said
Vardhan.
“The programme will focus on efficient procurement, quality
control and rational use – 50% medicines are wasted or overused, leading to
complications and drug- resistance,” the minister added.S Notably, as the Capital’s health minister between
1993 and 98, Dr Vardhan implemented the ‘Delhi model’ of World Health
Organization’s “Essential Drug Programme” that drew up an essential drugs list
with relevance to India’s healthcare needs.
“Today, the out-of-pocket expenditure
on health is 60% mainly because of two factors, medicines and diagnostics.
Providing free medicines coupled with their rational prescription and use will
lower cost to patients tremendously,” said Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, national
professor of pharmacology and chair of the committee for preparing the city’s
essential medicines list.
The Delhi model has been replicated
in 12 states in India and is promoted as a case study for developing nations by
WHO.
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