Review of the list of drugs under price control
Questions related to the topic were raised by members Shri H. Hanumanthappa and Shri Govindram Miri. The thrust of the question was why the task of review of the list of bulk drugs under price control has not been taken up so far.
In reply, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri M. Arunachalam stated that the Drug Policy envisages that the work related to updating of the list of drugs under price control would be undertaken by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). NPPA has not become functional due to problems of administrative nature. Therefore the Government has recently decided to initiate work pertaining to review of the list of of Bulk Drugs under price control.
The criteria laid down for inclusion/exclusion of drugs under price control are based on economic factors like turnover, market competition and monopoly situation. These criteria are for the industry as a whole and do not distinguish between companies of Indian origin and others. Representations against inclusion of 19 drugs were received from 27 manufacturers and I industry association. The decision of the Government has been conveyed to the concerned.
NPPA would do the work of price fixation, updating the list of drugs under price control, monitoring the price of decontrolled drugs and formulations and also oversee the implementation of the provisions of the Drugs (Price Control) Order. Chairman, NPAA is at present looking after the strategic administrative matters related to the NPPA.

Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No 342 dt. 25-7-1997.

National Illness Assistance Fund
Shri Rajnath Singh Surya and Shri Sanjay Nurupan asked Minister of Health and Family Welfare about the status of the National Illness Assistance Fund.
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed setting up of the fund. She said applications received for direct financial assistance are under scrutiny. The fund would release financial assistance to patients below the poverty line in India suffering from life-threatening diseases or undergoing medical treatment in any of the super-speciality hospitals/institutes or other government/private hospitals participating in the scheme. The assistance will be in the form of a one time grant which will be released to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital in which the treatment has been received. The fund is set up from allocation of 25 crore in the 1996-97 budget and donations from other agencies and individuals. If the quantum of financial assistance to a poor patient is less than 1.5 lakh, the release will be done by the Fund at the State/UT level and if the quantum of assistance is in excess of Rs 1.5 in an individual case, the case will be recommended to NIAF at the Centre.

RS USQ No. 211
dt. 24-7-1997.

Grievance Redressal Cell for Medical Treatment
In reply to a question by Miss Saroj Kharpade on the Grievance Redressal Cell, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare replied that a Grievance Redressal Cell (Health Sector) has been established in the Directorate General of Health Services on 25th of March 1977 to deal with complaints relating to medical treatment. This Cell has received 95 complaints relating to negligence in patient-care, medical practice by non-qualified persons etc. up to June 1977 which have been forwarded to the concerned authorities for investigations and appropriate action.

RS USQ No. 220 dt. 24-7-1997.

Bill for Mentally Retarded Persons
In reply to a question by Shri Raj Nath Singh and Shrimati Malti Sharma regarding a comprehensive bill for the mentally retarded persons, the Minister of Welfare, Shri B.S. Ramoowalia stated that action is being taken for the introduction of a National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Mental Retardation and Cerebral Palsy Bill in Parliament. The main objective of the Trust would be the rehabilitation of such persons. Consultation is going on with experts, non-government organisations and State governments before the bill is finalised.

RS USQ No 611 dt. 28-7-1997.

Medicinal Plants
Shri Jang Bahadur Singh Patel inquired whether the priceless medicinal plants growing in UP hills are being smuggled abroad, if so the number of cases coming to light.
The Minister of Environment and Forests, Prof. Saifuddin Soz replied that under the current Export-Import Policy of the Government, 53 plants obtained from the wild are included in the prohibited list of exports. These include 45 plants which are predominantly of medicinal value. Some cases of smuggling of these plants, plant products and derivatives are detected from time to time.
During the last one year (1966-67) 38 cases of attempted smuggling of medicinal plants have been detected and action taken against the offenders under the Customs Act, 1962. The States have also been advised not to freely issue permits for the plants which are in the critical or endangered categories, and to guard against their indiscriminate exploitation.

LS USQ 1057 dt.29-7-1997.

World Bank assistance for Malaria Eradication
Dr Ramvilas Vedanti raised a question about the total financial assistance received for malaria eradication from the World Bank and the amount of help provided to the states.
The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Renuka Choudhury informed the house that an enhanced malaria control project at an estimated total cost of Rs 891.04 crores to be implemented over a period of five years has been successfully negotiated with World Bank/International Development Association (IDA). The IDA has agreed to provide a credit which will cover around 85% of the total cost, net of taxes. The remaining cost will be borne by the Government of India through Annual Plan Budget.
1045 Primary Health Centres in 100 districts, which are high risk areas for P.falciparum malaria, in the seven States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan and 19 cities/towns in these States and States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal, which have high endemicity of malaria are essentially covered in the Project. Some of the components like manpower development, enhanced Information, Education and Communication and Management Information System would cover the entire country. Further, the Project envisages diversion of resources including use of insecticides to any area where there is an outbreak of malaria. State-wise allocation of funds would be determined after the Project is formally approved by Government of India.

LS USQ 1271 dt. 30-7-1997

TB Patients in the country
In reply to a question by Shri. Md. Salim regarding the total number of TB patients in the country, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that about 14 million people are suffering from TB in the country. The ratio of TB cases to population both in urban and rural areas is almost same.

RS USQ No. 985 dt. 31-7-1997

Right to Information
Shri Narendra Mohan raised a question on the government policy on the right to information and the steps being taken to ensure citizens’ access to information on the functioning of all public authorities in the country.
In reply, the Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral stated that with a view to introduce greater transparency and openness in the functioning of Government and public bodies, the Government had constituted a Working Group on "Right to Information and Promotion of Open and Transparent Government" under the Chairmanship of Shri H.D. Shourie. The Working Group has submitted its report to the Government on the 21st May, 1977. It has prepared for consideration of the Government a draft "Freedom of Information Bill". In order to ensure that flow of information to the public is not impended by other laws and rules, the Group has recommended amendments to section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 together with consequential amendments in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1934. Rule 11 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the Manual of Departmental Security. The "Freedom of Information Bill" also contains modalities for seeking information as also remedial measures in cases where access to information is refused. The Report of the Working Group has been forwarded to the various Central Ministries/Departments and the State Governments/Union Territories Administrations seeking their views/comments on the recommendations.

RS USQ No 1036 dt. 31-70-1997

Sub-Standard Drugs
Shri Anant Gupte inquired about the sub-standard/fake and spurious drugs in the country which threatens public health system and the effective steps taken by the government in tackling this problem.
The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare replied saying that as per reports from the State Drug Licensing Authorities during the period 1993-96, 10-12% samples of drugs tested were found to be sub-standard, whereas 0.2% samples were found to be of spurious origin. The State licensing authorities have been advised from time to time, to strengthen their enforcement staff and drugs testing facilities to curb the menace of manufacture and sale of sub-standard drugs. However, under the public health capacity building project being negotiated with the World Bank, Government proposes to augment the drug testing facilities and drug inspectorate staff in the centre and the states.

LS USQ 20 23-7-1997

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