Govt mulls plan for providing free essential drugs to all

The government in considering a proposal to provide essential drugs free of cost to all patients in a bid to bring down out-of-pocket expenditure of an individual on health care, which is presently a whopping 86 per cent.

"Government is examining a proposal to launch  to provide essential drugs free of cost to all patients visiting public health facilities," Health Minister JP Nadda said, replying to questions in Rajya Sabha.

Quoting a World Health Organization (WHO) report, Nadda said that out-of-pocket spending as part of private expenditure on health care is 86.3 per cent in the country compared to 22 per cent in the US and 57 per cent in the UK.

The reason for high expenses in the country is attributed to low government expenditure on health and the poor having limited access to essential drugs and diagnostics in public health services.

Nadda said the impact of rising health care cost had been drawing the government's attention and it has taken several steps to provide "accessible, affordable and accountable" health care facilities to people.