Question : Availability of Essential Drugs

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to make essential and life saving drugs available at affordable/ free of cost at hospitals to all especially poor patients in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds sanctioned, allocated and spent in this regard during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to spur domestic drugs manufacturing companies to invest sufficient funds towards research and development of new drugs; and

(d) if so, the details thereof indicating the incentives being provided/proposed to be provided by the Government to the said companies in this regard?

(a) & (b): Government is committed to providing free essential medicines in public health facilities. Since public health is a State subject, financial and technical support is being extended to States/UTs under the National Health Mission to provide free essential to all those who access public health facilities. Operational Guidelines on Free Drugs Service Initiative have been developed by the Government and shared with the states. The States are also being given an incentive to roll out such an initiative/scheme. The State/UT-wise details of approval and expenditure of funds for drugs and supplies during each of the last three years is attached as Annexure.
(c) & (d): Since 2004-05, the Department of Science & Technology under the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Research Programme has been supporting soft loans to Indian pharma industry for R&D projects at simple interest @ 3% per annum with repayment duration of 10 years. In addition, from 2008-09, this programme extends grants-in-aid support to Indian pharma industry for conducting clinical trials in neglected diseases such as malaria, kala-azar, TB, filariasis, etc.