The Hindu : Kerala News : Prescription for a healthy drug industry

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Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Prescription for a healthy drug industry

Public apprehensions of the role of middlemen in jacking up prices of medicines have grown in Kerala of late, with even government-supported fair price shops such as Neethi and Maveli stores hit by their machinations. What could be done to curb such practices? Our readers respond:

Social problem

Medicines are used by everyone. So an increase in the price of drugs becomes a social problem. The economically weaker sections of society are affected the most. It adds to their burden. The government should intervene and establish a mechanism to sell the medicines at affordable prices. Awareness programme should be conducted to inform the public about such initiatives of the government. More Neethi and Maveli stores should be opened to curb middlemen.

Shibina Abdu

Kochi

Ensure control

Medicines have become inevitable today. But the common man bears the brunt of any increase in the price of drugs. The All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association is alleged to have collected money from drug manufacturers. Such acts shatter public faith. Drug prices vary considerably at different locations. Such things should not be allowed. Drugs should be priced strictly under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). The public is still not aware of the required standards to be met by the manufacturer, marketing agents and pharmacists. Hence, the media should play an active role in popularising these. Drugs also come under the category of essential commodities. Therefore, the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act may be complied with. The recent statement by the Health Minister that advertising by drug companies would be prohibited is a move in the right direction.

Krishna K.

Kochi

Control essential

It is a fact that many pharmaceutical companies were reluctant to supply medicines to government-supported fair price shops such as Neethi and Maveli stores. When these companies were directed to supply drugs, they started supplying only select items. Now, it is the turn of the middlemen who create unwanted hurdles without the knowledge of either the government or the companies. The middlemen or the distributors deliberately create scarcity of medicines, even at fair price shops, by colluding with private stores.

The government should also ensure distribution of quality medicines through fair price shops.

Government control on production and sale of drugs is necessary in our set-up. The government can also enter into agreements with pharmaceutical companies to avoid middlemen.

V. Viswanathan Nambiar

Thrissur

Medical mafia

There is a medical mafia in our State. The mafia, which includes manufactures and distributors of medicines, medical representatives, medical stores/shops, nursing homes, hospitals, doctors and hospital staff, is making unholy gains at the cost of the public. There is no restriction on prescribing medicines. The patient should be made aware about his right to know the drug he is using. Also, he should know whether it is of help to him. Physicians should take pains to educate their patients on these fronts. Shopkeepers add tax based on their whims. The government should step in and regulate the whole business. Only such a pro-active intervention on part of the State can save the common man.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Kochi

Fair price shops

Government-supported fair price shops like Neethi and Maveli stores are very few in number. It is not possible to ensure proper supply with such a few shops. More such ventures should be promoted. The public should be made aware about such fair price shops. There should be a multi-pronged approach to solve the problem. Physicians should not promote worthless drugs. Middlemen should be kept out of the scene.

S. Krishnakumar

Kottayam

State’s incompetence

Drug distributors getting to dictate supply and pricing is just a case of incompetent governance on the part of the authorities concerned. The pricing policy should keep in mind the poorest of the poor. Any challenge to this should be strongly dealt with. Drugs manufacturers and other vested-interest groups who overlook this should not be allowed to function. Manufacturers should show more social responsibility. The government should exercise its powers in ensuring all these.

Devraj Sambasivan

Alappuzha

Right move

The government, it seems, is moving in the right direction. All illegal and anti-social activities in the pharma sector should be curbed. There is need for more government control. But, all sections of society should play their part. Doctors should stop prescribing unwanted drugs. By promoting such drugs, they are promoting vested-interest groups at the cost of the poor patients. There should be more public awareness programmes. The patient should know the drug he takes.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Thripunithura

Unfair activities

The skyrocketing of drug prices is partially due to the unfair activities of the All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association. As of now, it seems, they have the final say as to which company distributes which drugs. The Neethi and Maveli stores are affected due to this. Recently, the association issued a circular to all companies asking them to stop supplying medicines to counters that sell medicines at lower prices. Multinational companies have been paying the association in lakhs to get things done. No medical store can sell a medicine of a company ‘blacklisted’ by the association.

The release of a new brand of medicine also requires the consent of the association. To sum it up the association’s controls every aspect of the system.

This illegal highhandedness warrants stern action.

The government should prosecute the office-bearers of the association.

V.P. Ramesan

Thripunithura

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