Focuss on Affordable
Medicines for All Says Paswan
A new National Pharmaceutical
Policy focusing on the prices and availability of essential
drugs has been drafted. This was stated by the Minister
for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel, Shri Ram Vilas
Paswan while addressing a seminar on drug price control
in New Delhi today. The minister said that the policy
also includes measures for the growth of the pharma
industry. Highlighting the Government’s point of
view the Minister said that health care being high priority
area and prominent part of National Common Minimum Programme,
the Indian Government is committed to ensure affordability
and availability of medicines to all. Advocating consumer
friendly prices, Shri Paswan said that. price control
is one of the tools with the government to maintain
some reasonability in the prices of the medicines. He
said, direct purchase from the company instead of dealers
can reduce the cost of drugs by 50 per cent
The minister said, affordable medicines
for all assume significance in view of the unique health
insurance scheme for the below poverty line families
that has been launched on 1st April, 2008. Of the entire
expenditure on this scheme, 75 per cent will be borne
by the Central Government and 25 per cent by the State
Governments. Approximately 1crore 20 lakh people will
be benefited annually under this scheme.
Discussing the models and systems
being followed elsewhere in the world will help to learn
from others experiences to minimize the prices and maximize
the availability of drugs. The Minister desired to continue
the dialogue at national and international level to
sustain and maintain an edge at the global level Appreciating
the challenges faced by the industry on account of several
domestic and international factors, the minister stressed
the need for social responsibility aspect of the industry.
Earlier inaugurating the seminar,
the Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers,
Shri B.K. Handique said that the seminar will provide
an opportunity to share the experience with others on
the major areas of concern. Speaking on the occasion
Dr G S Sandhu, Joint Secretary Department of Chemicals
and Petrochemicals said, price control is a very important
issue for the government in view of the public health
requirements of the country.
NPPA has organized the international
seminar on pharmaceutical prices and regulatory framework
for affordable medicines for the first time to mark
completion of ten years of its existence. Seminar is
deliberating on various aspects of price regulatory
mechanisms affordability of drugs and the international
experience in the subject.
Source:
Press Information Bureau Date: April 12, 2008
