Question : ILLEGAL SALE OF MEDICINES

(a) whether it is a fact that medicines and certain other medical stuff are provided free of cost in Government hospitals to needy persons ;

(b) if so, the details thereof ;

(c) the total cost of medicines provided by the Government to the hospitals during each of the last three years, State-wise;

(d) whether it is also a fact that life saving drugs, supplied to hospitals for needy persons are sold in the market illegally;

(e) if so, the number of such incidents detected during each of the last three years, State-wise and year-wise;

(f) whether the Government has any estimate of the quantity and the cost of such medicines sold in the market;

(g) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(h) the measures taken by the Government to check such malpractices in Government hospitals ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. In so far as Central Government Hospitals in Delhi, namely, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and LHMC & its associated hospitals are concerned, all the medicines as per hospital formulary, are provided to the patients free of cost.

So far as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is concerned, all life saving emergency medicines and surgical items as per Institute`s formulary, are issued to all patients irrespective of their social and economic status. Certain essential drugs which are stocked in the Institute in limited quantity are issued only to those patients who cannot afford to buy such medicines. Patients admitted in private wards are however required to buy the medicines (other than life saving/emergency medicines) themselves. Further, costly medicines and essential drugs (such as anti-cancer drugs, higher antibiotics) nutritional supplement and high cost surgical disposable etc. are require to be procured by the patients from their sources. For poor and indigent patient, there is a provision for financial help from Hospital Poor Patient`s Fund; and National Illness Assistance Fund etc.

(c) Health being a state subject under the Constitution of India, such information is not maintained. Moreover, there is no separate budget allocation for medicines and consumables are made in Government Hospitals and the expenditure on medicines etc. are incurred from the total budget allocation of the respective hospitals.

(d) to (h): No report regarding illegal sale of life saving drugs in the open market, supplied to hospitals for needy persons has come to the notice of the Government.