|
Health ministry's Amrit pharmacy scheme draws flak from healthcare industry amid govt’s success claims
|
|
Arun Srinivasan, New Delhi
January 11 , 2018
|
|
|
An ambitious initiative of the ministry of health to reduce the
expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and
cardiovascular ailments is drawing flak from healthcare industry despite
government’s success claims.
On the one hand, official
statistics show that the government-run Amrit pharmacies have helped
patients reduce their out-of-pocket expenditure to the tune of Rs.
231.34 crore. On the other hand, healthcare professionals and
non-governmental organisations say that the whole programme is a sham
and lacks transparency in pricing and product procurement.
The
official data also revealed that Amrit, an acronym for affordable
medicine and reliable implants for treatment, had benefited 44 lakh
patients and the value of drugs dispensed at maximum retail price
touched Rs. 417.73 crore.
Launched
in 2015 by Union health minister JP Nadda, the country’s first Amrit
outlet was opened at AIIMS in New Delhi to sell drugs at highly
discounted rates. “We have identified 202 drugs of cancer and
cardio-vascular diseases where the price is going to be reduced on an
average by 60 to 90 per cent,” Nadda had said during the inauguration of
the outlet.
Since then, as many as 105 pharmacies have been set
up across 19 states for providing medicines for mainly cancer and
cardio-vascular ailments. More than 5,000 drugs and other consumables
are being sold at up to 60 per cent discounts. The government-owned HLL
Lifecare is mandated to establish and run the chain of pharmacies across
the country.
However, it is not all hunky-dory about the scheme
that is seen by many as a lifesaver, say healthcare industry experts.
“The devil is in the detail. The whole project lacks transparency in
product pricing and procurement. Setting up retail outlets to offer
medicines at reduced price is not going to make healthcare affordable to
all. The government should step in and set price caps for essential
medicines,” co-convener of non-profit All India Drugs Action Network
Malini Aisola told Pharmabiz.
“The stores are set up at
tertiary-care hospitals in the public sector which are expected to offer
medicines and surgical implants to deserving patients free of charge or
at a reduced price. Most Indians prefer to stay away from government
hospitals, at least for surgeries, because of the abominable conditions
there. Moreover, all government hospitals are not equipped to treat
these serious diseases, a fact that forces even the poor to go to
private hospitals,” said another medical professional who requested
anonymity.
Lack of awareness about scheme is also appalling.
Two years after the launch of the programme, many in the medical
fraternity also remain unaware of it. “I don’t know much about this
initiative,” Health activist and ENT surgeon Dr Gopal Dabade said.
It
may be noted that around 2.5 million Indians are living with cancer and
7 lakh new cases are reported annually. According to the Indian Heart
Association, 50 per cent of all heart attacks in Indians occur under 50
years of age and 25 per cent of attacks happen under 40 years of age.
City dwellers are three times more prone to heart attacks than people
living in villages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS
|
That foods might provide therapeutic benefits is clearly not a new concept. ...
|
|
|
|
|