Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is shortage of essential life saving medicines in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken to provide adequate life saving medicines to the patients?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): No.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): ‘Public Health and hospitals’ is a State subject. Financial and technical support under the National Health Mission (NHM), is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare delivery system including support for provision of essential/life saving drugs free of cost in public health facilities based on proposals of the State Governments. The support is also given for various components necessary for effective implementation of Free Drug Service Initiative viz. strengthening/setting up robust systems of procurement, quality assurance, IT backed supply chain management systems like Drugs and Vaccines Distribution Management Systems (DVDMS), warehousing, prescription audit, grievance redressal, information, training, dissemination of Standard Treatment Guidelines, etc.
Further, the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals is entrusted with the task of monitoring the availability of drugs in the country, identifying shortages, if any, and taking remedial measures. Whenever any complaint regarding non-availability of a particular medicine at a particular place is received, the concerned companies are asked by the NPPA to rush the supplies to that area.