Medical boon: Govt to provide 300 more essential drugs for free by year-end

The Ministry has also decided to provide Rs 3,500-crore assistance to states to roll out the scheme, apart from the funds that the states spend on purchasing drugs, which ranges from Rs 3,500-4,000 crore.

“The work is in the final stage as 19 states have responded positively. Given the fact that PM Narendra Modi had promised to provide affordable healthcare service to every citizen of the country, the Ministry has decided to provide all 348 life-saving medicines, mentioned in the essential drug list, for free to patients through government-run dispensaries,” a senior Health Ministry official said, adding that the list includes drugs for fever, cough, cold, rabies, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, HIV, etc.

He added: “In general, around 50-plus medicines are essential for treating common diseases, but the Ministry has decided to provide all drugs for free to those who access public healthcare facilities.” He further said that states are free to include more medicines into the <g data-gr-id="30">free-drug</g> list and the Centre is open to provide more <g data-gr-id="33">funds,</g> if required.

The Ministry hopes that the free medicine scheme will go a long way in fulfilling the promise of reducing out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare, which is defined as any direct expense incurred by patients on doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.

Drugs under the scheme will be generic.  The official said to maintain the efficacy of generic medicines would be a herculean task for the government, but the Ministry has devised a plan to deal with it.

He said: “The Centre has asked the states to upgrade IT infrastructure at even primary <g data-gr-id="24">healthcare</g> centres. The states have been directed to develop software, using C-DAC, to monitor the availability of drug stock and prescribed medicines.” 

He added: “The Ministry is replicating the Rajasthan model of monitoring drugs’ prescription to build confidence among masses that generic <g data-gr-id="29">medicianes</g> are as effective as branded ones.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Friday said in the Rajya Sabha that selling of any scheduled medicine at rates more that the notified price is not permitted and anybody found in the act will face stern action.