Question : Supply of Life Saving Drugs

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

(a) whether the Government has formulated any programme/scheme for providing free supply of life saving drugs in public/Government healthcare centres across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise including Bihar;

(c) the funds allocated and utilised for the purpose during the 12th Five Year Plan, year and State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has put in place a monitoring mechanism for proper utilisation of funds and ensure free availability of quality drugs in public health centres/ hospitals; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government to strengthen medical facilities in rural areas?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a): Public Health being a state subject, the primary responsibility of supply of medicines including lifesaving medicines free of cost to the patients in public/Government healthcare Centres lies with the State/UT governments. Under the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare delivery system including for provision of free essential drugs to those who access public health facilities, based on the requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.

(b): As on date all the States/UTs including Bihar have reported that they have notified free drug policy in their respective States/UTs.

(c): The information is at Annexure.

(d) & (e): Public Health being a state subject, the primary responsibility of putting in place a monitoring mechanism for proper utilisation of funds and ensure free availability of quality drugs in public health centres/ hospitals. Under NHM support is also provided to States/UTs for putting in place an IT enabled inventory management system to track drug availability. The implementation and progress of the National Health Mission (NHM) including proper utilisation of funds and ensure free availability of quality drugs in public health centres/ hospital is monitored/ reviewed at the national level through Annual Common Review Missions. At the District Level, the "District Level Vigilance & Monitoring Committees” are constituted to monitor the progress of implementation of NHM. Other mechanisms include external surveys such as Sample Registration Survey (SRS), the District Level Household Survey (DLHS) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS) besides regular monitoring visits from National Program Management Units to States & districts and from States to districts & blocks. The Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) helps to monitor the performance of public health facilities. Under NRHM, financial and technical support is provided to strengthen healthcare delivery system, particularly in rural areas.