A person's medical expenditure is very high in India and people can often end up in poverty while seeking treatment. Almost 33 per cent people suffer from poverty due to their medical expenditures. Thus Indian Health Ministry has launched the ambitious schemes of providing free generic drugs at government health care centres.
The initiatives, called 'Free Drug Service' and 'Free Diagnostics Service' under the National Health Mission, are aimed at sprucing up health care facilities in the country. Public can avail free drugs and free diagnostics services at the government health centres and hospitals if the states initiate the scheme. The states can access funds from the central government under the scheme by following certain guidelines laid down by it. The guidelines include:
a) It is mandatory for a state to have a clearly notified policy of providing free essential drugs and diagnostics to all patients coming to public sector facilities at least up to district hospital level.
b) The state should have a robust procurement, logistics and supply chain system that is backed by Information technology.
c) It must have differential facility-wise Essential Drug list/diagnostics list depending on the nature of the facility and a sound drug regulatory and quality assurance system.
d) The state should have adopted Standard Treatment Guidelines and provide for prescription audits to ensure rational use of drugs and it should name the initiative as 'National Health Mission-Free Drug Service' or 'National Health Mission-Free Diagnostic Service' or its translation in Hindi or regional language.
The initiatives, called 'Free Drug Service' and 'Free Diagnostics Service' under the National Health Mission, are aimed at sprucing up health care facilities in the country. Public can avail free drugs and free diagnostics services at the government health centres and hospitals if the states initiate the scheme. The states can access funds from the central government under the scheme by following certain guidelines laid down by it. The guidelines include:
a) It is mandatory for a state to have a clearly notified policy of providing free essential drugs and diagnostics to all patients coming to public sector facilities at least up to district hospital level.
b) The state should have a robust procurement, logistics and supply chain system that is backed by Information technology.
c) It must have differential facility-wise Essential Drug list/diagnostics list depending on the nature of the facility and a sound drug regulatory and quality assurance system.
d) The state should have adopted Standard Treatment Guidelines and provide for prescription audits to ensure rational use of drugs and it should name the initiative as 'National Health Mission-Free Drug Service' or 'National Health Mission-Free Diagnostic Service' or its translation in Hindi or regional language.
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