Dr Kapil K Sharma
Just a few days back health services of the state were in news. Health services of state were declared best in the country. Chief Minister of J&K was honoured at New Delhi. Now again health department is in lime light but for wrong reasons. The scam of spurious medicines is just unearthed. Medicines worth lakhs of rupees were found below standard.
The very objective of this article is not to point out who is responsible for this scam. It is the responsibility of regulatory and law enforcing agencies. My concern is towards the after effects of this scandal. Govt. has recently launched a new drug policy which is not implemented in full letter and spirit as yet. Readers I am really worried because of this fiasco free supply of medicines to poor patients at Govt. hospitals should not suffer.
The new drug policy has already suffered a lot of undue criticism. It is already opposed by the some section of people whose professional interests were affected. Majority of general public is not aware of benefits of this policy. Please allow me to explain the positivity of this policy
History is the witness whenever a new or revolutionary idea is put forward it is always greeted with resistance before being accepted. New drug policy is no exception to it.
This drug policy is not an experiment. This system is very well practiced in many countries and that too very successfully. US,UK, Australia etc. are the examples of it. If you say that Indian health system is different then I beg to differ.
What is happening right now is that we are making up our minds without fully understanding this policy. This policy is not going to effect much the rich people or I should say people who are middle class onwards. It is basically going to help poor masses. People who live on day to day basis are going to be benefitted by this. If you want to assess its impact then you got to visit grass root level govt. hospitals like sub centers, allopathic dispensaries, primary health centers, community Health centers, dist. Hospitals etc.
Allow me to portray a picture in your mind. Imagine a poor laborer with a family of many dependents whose daily income is just sufficient to meet two ends meals. If some day he does not get work or dehadi,he may has to skip a meal. If such a person falls sick and goes to hospital where he is slapped with a prescription of medicines which costs few hundred rupees, now same set of medicines are available with same chemist at the rate half of the prescribed one. Poor man is not able to buy cheaper medicines as drugs written are the brand names and he is not aware that cheaper medicines are having the same salt. Look at the irony: same set of medicines are also available in the hospital dispensary free of cost but poor illiterate man can’t get them because names written on prescription are not matching with the hospital supply.
Don’t you think writing generic name is solution to this problem if yes then new drug policy is saying exactly the same?
When I mentioned that it is not going to affect much the moneyed people what I meant that a difference of few hundred rupees is not a cause of concern to this class. This is the class which is instrumental in descion making and motivating the opinion so there enlightenment is must.
This policy is also a step towards thwarting a global threat which is maligning the image of India. Readers must be aware of a term called super bug (New Delhi Metello-Beta-Lacto Mase). If we are not aware then allow me to explain this. This is new type of bacteria which can’t be killed by any antibiotic. What I mean if somebody is infected by this bacteria one cannot be cured as it is resistant to even highest or strongest available antibiotic. Irony is western countries are suggesting that this bacteria has originated from the hospitals of India that is why it is named after New Delhi. What a shame.
The genesis of this so called New Delhi bacteria is over zealous, irrational, unethical use of antibiotics. It is very common in our country due to various reasons.this new drug policy is step towards curbing this menaceas it suggests auditing of prescription by the competent authority at every hospital. This will ensure and check irrational use of antibiotics.
One of the biggest flaw in the old system of drug distribution is lack of control or sealing on the prices of medicines. A medicine of same salt is available at same counter under different brands at unreasonable different rates. Some times difference in mrp is 100% to 400%. Writing generic or international non proprietaryname[INN] and at the same time having the sealing on price is the welcome step in new drug policy.
Few points which are mentioned in new drug policy are really commendable if they are put in to practice in full letter and spirit. My pointer is towards quality controlmanagement at manufacturing site. What mechanism govt. evolves for this is yet to be seen. This will definitely save common man from spurious drugs. Emphasis on good storage facility is really heartening especially in case of vaccines. This step will ensure quality, safety and efficacy of drugs.
We all know a good package is also accompanied by certain unpleasant irritants. This new policy seems to have certain wrinkles which need to be iron out, these includes
* How to infuse professionalism in retail chemists as a lot is going to depend on them
* How to make sure chemist is going to sell quality medicine with good track record
* What will be the mechanism for price sealing
* How to educate retailer as far new salts are concerned
Last but not the least we must address the concern of medical representatives who may loose their job.
If all these concerns are addressed then we must give a try to New Drug Policy.
(The writer is presently working as Dental Surgeon with J&K Govt Health Services)
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