Lok Sabha Question No. 6013 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Generic Drugs in Rural Areas
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6013 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  APRIL, 2017

## Generic Drugs in Rural Areas

## 6013. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to promote the use of generic drugs in rural areas of the country;
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to spread awareness about the use of generic drugs in the country;
- (c) the number of Government hospitals in rural India as compared to the number of Government hospitals which use and provide generic drugs to patients; and
- (d) the  steps  proposed  by  the  Government  to  increase  access  to  generic  drugs through Government hospitals and other health centres?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) In  order  to  promote  the  use  of  generic  drugs  in  the  country  including  its  rural areas  and  with  the  objective  of  making  available  quality  generic  drugs  at affordable prices to all, a countrywide campaign in the name of 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Pariyojana'  (PMBJP)  has  been  started.  This  provides more  than  600  medicines  and  154  surgicals  and  consumables  at  affordable prices in all therapeutic categories such  as  Anti-infectives, Anti-diabetics, Cardiovasculars, Anti-cancers, Gastro-intestinal medicines, etc. For impeccable quality  assurance,  each  batch  of  drug  supply  to  PMBJP  Kendras  is  tested  at National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration  Laboratories (NABL) accredited  laboratories  empanelled  by  the  Bureau  of  Pharma  PSUs  of  India (BPPI),  the  implementing  agency  of  PMBJP.  As  on  05.04.2017,  1110  PMBJP Kendras are functional in the country. However, to ensure coverage across the entire country, various steps have been taken by the Government such as:
- (i) The scheme guidelines have been amended to enable opening of PMBJP Kendras in various Government owned buildings like Municipalities/Panchayati Raj Institutions/Post Offices, etc. and incentivizing of weaker sections to participate in the scheme.
- (ii) Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed with various State  Government/Organisations/NGOs  to  promote  opening  of  PMBJP Kendras across the country.
- (iii) BPPI has released advertisements in various newspapers in the country during December 2016 inviting applications from private individuals. The response has been overwhelmingly encouraging and as on  05.04.2017, 28,301 applications have been received out of which in-principle approval has been given to 24,049 applications.
- (b) In  order  to  spread  awareness  about  the  use  of  generic  drugs  in  the  country, BPPI has initiated publicity campaigns around PMBJP  Kendras  through hoardings,  bulk  SMS,  mobile  exhibitions,  distribution  of  pamphlets,  etc.  for spreading awareness about the scheme and its objective of providing affordable and  quality  generic  medicines.  Also,  a  15  days  Radio/FM  campaign  was  also launched in various States of the country.
- (c) & (d) 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 primarily 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.

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