Lok Sabha Question No. 3433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Free Medicines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA, KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA, VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3433 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH AUGUST, 2016

## FREE MEDICINES

## 3433. SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA: SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA: SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

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

(a) whether the Government has introduced any scheme for providing free medicines or at subsidised rates and medical assistance for screening/treatment of various diseases to the BPL people including SCs/ STs and OBCs suffering from cancer, diabetes, TB, etc. in the country; and

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with the  various  types  of  financial  and  technical assistance  being provided/likely to be provided to them?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a) & (b):  Public Health being a state subject, the primary responsibility of supply of medici cost or at subsidized rates to the patients l ies with the State/UT governments. Provisioning of drugs and diagnostics is supported under National Health Mission (NHM) and National Programme for Preventi and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) based on the propos als submitted by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans. The support is provided to States/UTs including for SC/STs and OBCs.

The list of medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) which included in the First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013 also contain drugs used f the treatment of Cancer, Diabetes, Tuberculosis etc. for which ceiling prices have been fixed. Mo states are providing essential drugs, including certain cancer d ugs free of cost to patients who come to public health facilities.

Guidelines have been released to the States for prevention, control and population level sc for common cancer (oral, breast and cervical), diabetes and hypertension for implementa tion. Similarly, guidelines have been released for provision of essential drugs free of cost in public health facil

To make available Cancer and Cardiovascular drugs at discounted price to the patients with prescription,  Affordable  Medicines  a nd  Reliable  Implants  for  Treatment  (AMRIT)  outlets  have  been opened at 7 Central Government institutions. Approval has also been accorded for opening of such at 8 more Central institutions. State Governments have also been informed regarding AMRIT pharmacies and M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. which is a Government of India CPSE, has been directed to consider requests  of  State  Governments  for  opening  of  AMRIT  pharmacies  at  major  State  Government hospitals/Institutions.

Under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control programme (RNTCP), diagnostic and treatment facilities are provided free of cost to all TB patients. Designated Microscopy Centers (DMC) hav established  for  quality  diagnosis  for  every  one  lakh  populati on  in  the  general  areas  and  for  50,000 population in the tribal, hilly and difficult areas. Diagnosis of Drug Resistant TB is being un 64  Culture  &  Drug  Susceptibility  Testing  (C - DST)  laboratories,  of  which  51  laboratories  are  also equipped  with rapid  molecular  test  named  Line  Probe  Assay  (LPA).  Additionally,  Cartridge  Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique (CBNAAT) Test Machines have been installed across the country