Prices of 500 drugs reduced in last two years: Ananth Kumar

Government has reduced the prices of 500 drugs, surgical supplies and other medical consumables in last two years, Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar today said.
Sharing the achievements of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers in last two years, Kumar said that Jan Aushadhi Stores which provide medicines at a reasonable prices are being increased from around 100 (in 2014) to 3,000.
"Strong action was taken at the pricing regulation end to reduce essential drug prices and provide relief to the public and the ailing. Prices of about 500 drug formulations, surgical supplies and medical consumables have been reduced," Kumar said in a statement.

The Minister said that country has an unhealthy dependence on China for 80 bulk drugs or APIs, which are active raw materials used to make drugs. Therefore to boost domestic production, bulk drugs parks are being established.
On fertiliser side, the Minister said the country has witnessed a record production of 245 lakh tonnes of urea in the 2015-16 fiscal on back of the policy initiatives taken by the government.