Kolkata: The West Bengal State Health Department has reduced the prices of 132 life-saving drugs on an immediate basis.
This decision by the West Bengal Health Department includes several medicines used in cancer treatment. In addition, it also includes antibiotics medicines used in heart treatment, stroke, nerve diseases, diabetes, anti-allergy, ringworm worm and a few life-saving injections.
This happened within two weeks of the Union Health Department increasing the prices of 748 life-saving drugs at the beginning of the financial year.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority increased the prices by 1.74 per cent to balance with the wholesale drug market. This included medicines for cancer, heart treatment, hypertension and even stents.
In addition, the State Health Department has brought 9 more medicines under the purview of the Swasthya Sathi Scheme.
The government doctor association, though, has reminded the authority to ensure these medicines are available at the hospital itself, especially for villagers coming from a lower economic position.
