Autonomous medical supplies body would get essential generic medicines to patients at public hospitals and clinics -report
NEW DELHI (AlertNet) – The Indian government is considering a free-medicine-for-all scheme to help poverty-stricken rural families access basic drugs and prevent them from going into debt by borrowing money for medical treatment, the Times of India reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the planned scheme would help local authorities set up an autonomous medical supplies body that would supply essential generic medicines to patients who seek treatment at public hospitals and clinics.
India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu has already set up a similar scheme, said the report, where a public-run body procures the bulk of drugs directly from manufacturers though a transparent bidding process – substantially reducing the cost of medicines. In many cases, the drugs cost a tenth to a fifteenth less than in retail outlets.
“Medicines account for about 50 to 80 percent of healthcare costs, which often lead to rural indebtedness,” the report quoted a government panel as saying. “The scheme will ensure free government healthcare to the poor and vulnerable.”
The report said the state of Kerala has already adopted the Tamil Nadu model and regions like Bihar and Rajasthan are in the process of implementing the scheme.
(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)
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