The Centre’s decision to shelve the plan to supply free of cost generic medicines worth Rs 6,000 crore every year through government hospitals is unfortunate, to say the least. The reasons advanced for the decision — financial constraints and inability to procure drugs during the last 18 months — are unbelievable, as the plan was one of the cornerstones of the 12th Five Year Plan. Now, the Centre expects the states to do what it could not and use the funds at the disposal of the National Health Mission for the purpose. This amounts to an admission of the Centre’s failure to meet the expectations of the people, after they had been aroused.
India is the world’s largest producer of generic drugs, which cost only a fraction of branded drugs. At a time efforts are made to popularise prescription and use of generic drugs worldwide, it is tragic that the Government of India is unable to popularise such drugs. True, some state governments have been asking its doctors to prescribe only generic drugs, also supplied free of cost. The campaign would certainly have got a fillip if the Centre’s Rs 6,000-crore plan had fructified. Had the Centre succeeded in organising a national generic drug procurement programme, it would have reduced corruption inherent in decentralised procurement and distribution.
Better late than never, the Centre should revive the plan, which will go a long way in making treatment affordable to the common man. Studies have shown that the cost of medicine accounts for 50 to 80 per cent of the out-of-pocket expenditure patients incur. Again, nearly 40 per cent of those needing hospital care have to borrow money or sell assets to afford the cost. Illness is one of the main causes of pauperisation in India. Besides, over 20 per cent of the sick do not seek medical help because the cost of medicines is unaffordable to them. Given the chilling statistics, it will be cruel if the Centre abandons its plan and leaves the patients to fend for themselves.
