Essential Drug Price Cuts Save Rs 3,788 Crore Annually For Patients, Says Govt

The government has announced that price reductions in essential drugs have led to annual savings of Rs 3,788 crore for patients.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has fixed ceiling prices for 928 scheduled formulations and retail prices for over 3,200 new drugs.

This measure aims to make medicines more affordable for the public.

Key Initiatives Drive Affordability: PMBJP & AMRIT

The price cuts stem from updates in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022, which has resulted in an average price reduction of 17 percent for essential medicines.

This significant reduction in medicine prices directly benefits patients, reducing their healthcare expenditure.

The government has also focused on promoting affordability through various initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

This program offers quality medicines at 50-80 percent lower prices at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India.

Additionally, the AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) initiative helps provide cancer, cardiovascular, and surgical implant medications at discounts of up to 50 percent at selected hospital pharmacies.

These measures are helping ease the financial burden of patients suffering from life-threatening conditions.

Enhance Medicine Accessibility

In further efforts to ensure that essential drugs remain accessible, the government has launched the Free Drugs Service Initiative.

This initiative provides financial support to state and Union Territory governments to make essential medicines available in public health facilities.

This includes 106 drugs at sub-health centres, 172 drugs at primary health centres, 300 drugs at community health centres, 318 drugs at sub-district health centres, and 381 drugs at district hospitals.

The government’s commitment to improving medicine accessibility is reflected in the increasing coverage under the PMBJP.

The current product basket includes 2,047 medicines and 300 surgicals, medical consumables, and devices, covering all major therapeutic categories.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals plans to expand this basket to 2,100 medicines and 310 surgicals and medical devices by March 31.

The NPPA continues to monitor both scheduled and non-scheduled drug prices, ensuring that price caps are adhered to and that patients benefit from reduced costs.

These efforts are a part of the government’s broader strategy to make healthcare more affordable and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for the public, particularly for vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, the government’s pricing measures and initiatives like PMBJP and AMRIT have contributed significantly to making essential medicines more affordable, resulting in substantial savings for patients while improving access to necessary treatments across the country.

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