New drug policy to be implemented from August 15: Paswan

Patna, Jul 3 (UNI) Steel, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today announced that the new drug policy would be implemented from August 15.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Paswan said the draft of the new drug policy was almost ready and it would be sent to the Cabinet for its approval next month.

Following the implementation of new drug policy, prices of 354 medicines would be under control of the Centre, while the government used to fix the prices of only 74 medicines.

He said provision had been made in the proposed drug policy for furnishing information in both Hindi and English about the medicines on its labels.

Mr Paswan said the Centre was preparing an action plan to make arrangements for free treatment to the poor and was ready to incur the expenditure of Rs 3000 crore in this connection.

The Centre was finalising a scheme to provide insurance cover to the people living below poverty line, he added.

He informed that the government was engaged in negotiation with different insurance companies for insurance cover to the poor and spend Rs 3000 crore in this regard.

If needed the Centre was ready to spend even more for providing suucour to the underprivileged section, he claimed.

UNI XC-RS SJC RN1749