Modi wants docs to push generic drugs
Hints at new rules for cheaper medicines
■ Surat, April 17:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday indicated that his government may bring in a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines, which are cheaper than the equivalent branded drugs, to patients.
Mr Modi said his government brought in a health policy after 15 years and capped the prices of medicines and stents, which has angered some pharmaceutical companies.
Speaking at the inauguration of a charitable hospital here, he exhorted the wealthy people to come forward and contribute towards the health care of the needy people. This country has not been built by the kings and leaders alone but also by the power of the people, he said.
“Doctors write prescriptions in such a way that poor people do not understand the handwriting, and he has to buy that medicine from private stores at high prices,” Mr Modi said.
“We will bring in a legal framework by which if a doctor writes a prescription, he has to write in a way that it will be enough for patients to buy generic medicines and he not any other medicine,” he said.
“In our country doctors are less, hospitals are less and medicines are expensive. If a person falls seriously ill in a family, then the financial health of the family gets wrecked. He cannot buy a house, cannot conduct the marriage of his daughter,” he pointed out. “It is the government's responsibility that everybody should get health services at cheap rates,” the Prime Minister said. Page 12: Pharma firms angry with me, says Modi
Surat, April 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indicated that his government may bring in a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines.
“We have recently declared a health policy. The health policy has been brought in after 15 years,” Mr Modi said.
“Earlier, the health policy was brought when Atalji (A.B. Vajpayee) was the Prime Minister. Nothing happened in between (in health sector), which I have to do (now),” Modi said targeting the previous UPA government led by the Congress.
“When I was in Gujarat, I used to attract the wrath of many (by my decisions). Now when I have gone to Delhi, I have been instrumental in making many people angry, everyday I do some work which makes some or other person sulk,” he said.
“See these companies which are manufacturing medicines, they used to charge `1,200 for an injection. We called everyone (pharma companies) and ensured that the prices are reduced.
“The prices of 700 medicines were capped so that poor people get medicines at reasonable rates when they face grave diseases,” Modi said.
“We have also capped the prices of stents used in heart ailments,” he said.
“We have done this work, and you can imagine how angry the manufacturers of medicines will be. Despite the wrath of a very powerful lobby, the government is taking one step after another so that poor people and middle class get quality health services,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the government has implemented the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna’, where people get generic medicines from stores at reasonable rates.
Modi also stressed on preventive health care saying if people adopt it, they will not have to visit hospitals. “Preventive health care is very important. My Swachhta Abhiyan (cleanliness campaign) is aimed at preventive healthcare as it has been proved that many diseases are contracted if we live in an unclean environment,” he said.