Paswan promises free medical treatment to BPL families

Varanasi, Oct 7 (UNI) Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan today assured that the below poverty line (BPL) people would be provided free medical treatment through a health insurance scheme, the draft of which would shortly be forwarded to the cabinet by his ministry.

''We envisage to provide free medical treatment upto a value of Rs 35,000 to all BPL people, through the health insurance scheme to be funded wholly by the Centre at an annual cost of Rs 3,000 crore,'' Mr Paswan told mediapersons here.

The minister also informed that medicines, including generic and 354 life saving drugs, will from November 2 next be available at lower prices to public in pursuance with an arrangement between Centre, pharma companies, chemists and other concerned players of pharmaceutical industry.

''As per the arrangement, the medicines would be available to public at prices, which offer a maximum profit of 35 per cent to pharma companies, wholesale drug dealers and retailers,'' he added.

Besides, for the conveinience of general public, the labels on medicines unlike in the past, would now bear details of name, price, manufacturing and expiry date in Hindi and English.

The price would only comprise Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and no local taxes extra, to come in force from November 2 next, Mr Paswan said.

The Union minister further informed that his ministry has also proposed to the government the establishment of 'Drug Bank' in every district of the country. These drug banks will provide essential drugs to poor people free of cost.

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president further added it has also been proposed to the Centre to start an interest and security free loan spanning beween Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 for unorganised sector.

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