Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday said that right to health will be the next major demand in the country as health affairs have become one of the most worrying concerns of the public.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Fair Price Medical Shop and Laboratory set up by Red Cross Society at the District Hospital here.
The Chief Minister added that, although, modern and effective treatment facilities are available here, the average persons are unable to bear the expense.
“The government is keen on ensuring sufficient supply of generic medicines through government hospitals. While the project has already been implemented in Medical College Hospitals in the previous year, it will be extended to district and general hospitals in this year. Generic medicines will be available in all government hospitals by March 31 next year,” he said.
He added that one per cent of the total profit of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation has already been earmarked for meeting the costs of implementing the generic medicines project.
“The aim is to provide health services to all the people equally here. The decision to set aside one per cent of the revenue of Bevco was thus, only a preliminary step,” he said.
The Chief Minister also praised the initiatives of the Red Cross and said the move would abridge the gap till an Act like Right to Health would be envisaged.
“The government has placed a demand for such an act before the meetings of the National Development Council for the past two years and hope that it would be envisaged soon. Till then, the medicines would be provided at fair prices,” Oommen Chandy said.