50 Essential medicines to be given free?
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. 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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