THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:With the drug prices shooting up and the alleged exploitation of drug manufacturers, the government has said that a feasibility study would be conducted to assess the possibility of producing medicines economically in the state.
“An agency will be appointed to conduct a feasibility study to see if medicines could be produced at a low cost in the state itself,” Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty told the Assembly while replying to a calling attention moved by V D Satheesan of the Congress.
He also mentioned that more funds would be provided to Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. As of now, KSDP was only producing 26 of the 500 items that is bought by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd, he added. Meanwhile, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said the government as part of its market intervention initiative has been providing around 500 medicines at a low cost. About 7,900 medicines, including branded drugs, are made available through fair price Karunya medical stores, he added. Moving the calling attention, Satheesan called for setting up drug manufacturing companies in the public sector to counter the exploitation of drug companies and intermediaries in the state.