CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has become the first State in country to decide to supply the expensive immunosuppressive drugs free of cost to those who have had organ transplantation, in both private and government hospitals.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare has set apart Rs 10-15 crore out of its annual budget for this.
Immunosuppressants, popularly called anti-rejection drugs, are used to reduce the strength of the body’s immune system so that the new organ is not attacked. High dosages of immunosuppressants are given to organ recipients post-surgery and the medication is reduced gradually, though patients have to be on immunosupressive drugs throughout their lives. The cost is Rs 30,000 in the first month, which settles around Rs 6,000 a month at the end of the first year.
In TN, transplantations are free in Government hospitals and Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme covers deserving cases at private hospitals. However, patients have to buy the immunosuppresants.
The State has issued orders in individual cases on humanitarian grounds based on the recommendations of deans of medical college hospitals, and directors of medical education. Accordingly, immunosuppresants were distributed to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients and others.
Speaking to Express, the health secretary J Radhakrishnan said that to streamline the system, the department of health and family welfare had passed a GO on March 8 to supply these drugs free of cost to all organ recipients, subject to fulfilment of other norms and conditions.
Welcoming this move, S Shanthi, a beneficiary from Coimbatore, said, “Right now, we write to the dean of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, who forwards it to the headquarters and the amount reaches us three months later. Now with this move, I hope there will no delay.”