Govt making efforts to bring down price of drugs: Nadda

Government is making efforts to lower the prices of drugs and promote use of generic medicines as part of efforts to make them more affordable for the people, Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda said.
Besides, the Minister said there is a need to create an environment for rational use of antibiotics.
During Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Nadda said the government is trying to regulate the prices of drugs and make medicines more affordable for the people.
In this regard, efforts are being made to promote more number of pharmaceutical companies in the country.
Stating that there has been "irrational use of drugs", he said steps have been taken to spread awareness about their rational use and also increase the use of generic medicines.

"Medical Council of India has also stressed on the use of generic name of drugs to ensure rational prescription by the physicians under the provisions of Indian Medical Council of (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002," he noted.

He said government is concerned over rising incidence of anti-microbial resistance cases in the country.
At present, many anti-microbial drugs are imported from China and other countries.
The quality, safety and efficacy of imported drugs are ensured through a system of registration for overseas manufacturing sites and drugs with the Drugs Controller General of India.
"A separate schedule (H1) has also been added to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules on August 30, 2013, to restrict the indiscriminate sale of certain antibiotics, anti TB drugs and habit forming drugs," the Minister said.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has initiated a campaign to spread awareness on rational use of antibiotics.
In response to a query about spurious drugs, he said even though regulations are in place to curb their use, "there is need to go much ahead" on this front.