Centre plans to bring life-saving drugs under GoI control

Agartala, Jan 20 (UNI) The Union Ministry of Chemicals will bring life-saving drugs under the Centre's control to ensure unified price of the medicines across the country as well as to make them available everywhere at affordable prices.

Talking to UNI here today, Union Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel, Ramvilas Paswan said most of the chemical industries were under private ownership and had been squeezing money from the people.

He informed that only 74 life-saving drugs were under the Centre's control and there was neither supply crisis nor price controversy.

''The Centre proposes to bring all the life-saving medicines under the control of the Union Ministry to improve the health facilities in the country,'' Mr Paswan said.

Referring to the development avenues in the NE, Mr Paswan said the Centre was trying to exhort some private chemical companies to invest in the region, as barring two chemical establishments, all others were being managed by private enterprises.

He stated that once railway lines would be constructed upto Agartala, it would be easier for the state government to approach the entrepreneurs to invest in such profit-oriented sectors.

He also said Tripura had an added advantage as it had huge natural gas reserves.

''Tripura has great prospects in setting up chemical hubs, fertiliser industries and other heavy industrial units, in which the Centre would definitely assist,'' Mr Paswan added.

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