Soaring prices of medicines plaguing poor patients
No effective mechanism to check quality and prices of drugs
Doctors allegedly prescribing costlier medicines to favour pharmaceutical companies
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Steep rise in drug prices and exploitation by drug dealers and pharmaceutical companies have caused untold misery to poor patients who ultimately turn victims of the drug market monopolised by private pharmaceutical companies.
MLAs and top officials in the field gathered at a meeting held at the collectorate yesterday to gather evidence from civil right activists and common man about drug price rise and exploitation.
Welcoming the gathering, District Collector PM Francis said: "Common people suffer a lot because of hike in medicine prices and the government's effort to seek evidences from layman is worth appreciating. Thrissur is the first venue and further investigations will be done in other districts."
A resolution presented by Benny Behanan was unanimously passed at the assembly in November for bringing a check on the price hikes and quality of drug supply in the state. A committee was then formed to gather evidence from various parts of the state regarding this issue. MLA TN Prathapan, chairman of the committee, talked about the quality of medicines available in India.
"Kerala sees around Rs3,500cr-worth of medicine sales each year. Out of the 840 essential medicines sold, only 74 are regulated by the central government. This leads to severe irregularities in rates and quality," he said.
The evidences collected during these meetings will be presented in the next assembly session, said Prathapan.
Managing director of Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMCL) Biju Prabhakan said, "In Kerala, more than 50,000 branded medicines are traded. Exploitation is mainly seen in the case of anti-cancer and similar specialty drugs. To curb this, a decision has been taken to supply all the 119 cancer medicines available at Regional Cancer Research Centre to the five government colleges also, at the same rates." He also confirmed that medicines reach hospitals only after inspection and now since there is a doubt in quality, inspections have increased.
By mid-January, three government medical council run retail outlets will begin in Thiruvanathapuram which will supply medicines at reduced prices, Biju said. By April 2012, all district and taluk hospitals will be equipped with these medical stores and by the end of next year, the number of stores in the state is expected to reach 200, he said.
MLA Babu Pallissery opined that the law needs to be strengthened. "Many people are fooled by false promises by Ayurvedic and Oushadi products. Laws need to be amended to curb such people. Advertisements are very misleading," Babu said. He requested everyone to do their bit in informing the government about wrong that is happening around them so that government can take action.
MLAs Anwar Sadath, BD Devassy and PA Madhavan also spoke on the occasion. "Neethi stores are a great relief to people but controlling the quality is certainly a big challenge, "said Devassy. Madhavan and Anwar urged everyone to make effort for change.
Health services director Jameela, district medical officer Dr PK Jayasree, doctors, drug retailers and wholesale traders and common people were present at the meeting. The next meetings will be held at Kozhikode, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, said Prathapan.
People's voice
Professor, Thrissur Medical College, Dr K Mohanan: The first Neethi store in Kerala was set up in Thrissur and it faced stiff opposition from everyone. The government should take measures to control prices of all drugs. Also a drug formulary should be available in the people's domain. Currently, drugs come under the petroleum ministry; this is why prices are de-regulated.
Drug controller Satheesh: Kerala and Goa are the states with the least rates of low quality medicines at 1.82%. The control board is doing its best in trying to ensure that fake medicines are not available in the market. Random checks are done every day.
All Kerala Pharmacist Council Members: Little is done to improve awareness. People take to treating their own illness. Also private hospitals exploit patients. Doctors take commissions from various people and prescribe unnecessary medicines which cause adverse effects. Doctors prescribe costlier medicines instead of medicines which are available at lower prices. This should be regulated.
President of All Kerala Chemist and Druggist Association AN Mohan: There are only 25 people in Kerala who legally trade in cancer medicines. If they are culprits, strict action should be taken. Proper investigations are needed before taking decisions.
No effective mechanism to check quality and prices of drugs
Doctors allegedly prescribing costlier medicines to favour pharmaceutical companies
================================================
Steep rise in drug prices and exploitation by drug dealers and pharmaceutical companies have caused untold misery to poor patients who ultimately turn victims of the drug market monopolised by private pharmaceutical companies.
MLAs and top officials in the field gathered at a meeting held at the collectorate yesterday to gather evidence from civil right activists and common man about drug price rise and exploitation.
Welcoming the gathering, District Collector PM Francis said: "Common people suffer a lot because of hike in medicine prices and the government's effort to seek evidences from layman is worth appreciating. Thrissur is the first venue and further investigations will be done in other districts."
A resolution presented by Benny Behanan was unanimously passed at the assembly in November for bringing a check on the price hikes and quality of drug supply in the state. A committee was then formed to gather evidence from various parts of the state regarding this issue. MLA TN Prathapan, chairman of the committee, talked about the quality of medicines available in India.
"Kerala sees around Rs3,500cr-worth of medicine sales each year. Out of the 840 essential medicines sold, only 74 are regulated by the central government. This leads to severe irregularities in rates and quality," he said.
The evidences collected during these meetings will be presented in the next assembly session, said Prathapan.
Managing director of Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMCL) Biju Prabhakan said, "In Kerala, more than 50,000 branded medicines are traded. Exploitation is mainly seen in the case of anti-cancer and similar specialty drugs. To curb this, a decision has been taken to supply all the 119 cancer medicines available at Regional Cancer Research Centre to the five government colleges also, at the same rates." He also confirmed that medicines reach hospitals only after inspection and now since there is a doubt in quality, inspections have increased.
By mid-January, three government medical council run retail outlets will begin in Thiruvanathapuram which will supply medicines at reduced prices, Biju said. By April 2012, all district and taluk hospitals will be equipped with these medical stores and by the end of next year, the number of stores in the state is expected to reach 200, he said.
MLA Babu Pallissery opined that the law needs to be strengthened. "Many people are fooled by false promises by Ayurvedic and Oushadi products. Laws need to be amended to curb such people. Advertisements are very misleading," Babu said. He requested everyone to do their bit in informing the government about wrong that is happening around them so that government can take action.
MLAs Anwar Sadath, BD Devassy and PA Madhavan also spoke on the occasion. "Neethi stores are a great relief to people but controlling the quality is certainly a big challenge, "said Devassy. Madhavan and Anwar urged everyone to make effort for change.
Health services director Jameela, district medical officer Dr PK Jayasree, doctors, drug retailers and wholesale traders and common people were present at the meeting. The next meetings will be held at Kozhikode, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, said Prathapan.
People's voice
Professor, Thrissur Medical College, Dr K Mohanan: The first Neethi store in Kerala was set up in Thrissur and it faced stiff opposition from everyone. The government should take measures to control prices of all drugs. Also a drug formulary should be available in the people's domain. Currently, drugs come under the petroleum ministry; this is why prices are de-regulated.
Drug controller Satheesh: Kerala and Goa are the states with the least rates of low quality medicines at 1.82%. The control board is doing its best in trying to ensure that fake medicines are not available in the market. Random checks are done every day.
All Kerala Pharmacist Council Members: Little is done to improve awareness. People take to treating their own illness. Also private hospitals exploit patients. Doctors take commissions from various people and prescribe unnecessary medicines which cause adverse effects. Doctors prescribe costlier medicines instead of medicines which are available at lower prices. This should be regulated.
President of All Kerala Chemist and Druggist Association AN Mohan: There are only 25 people in Kerala who legally trade in cancer medicines. If they are culprits, strict action should be taken. Proper investigations are needed before taking decisions.
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