From here. The indian goverment should be communists?
India has announced that medicines will be available free to everyone who needs them from October, and that 100 crore rupees (1 billion rupees, or around $17.5 million) has been received from the Planning Commission to finance the supply of free medicines for 2012-13.
The government will fund 75% of the costs of the scheme, which are expected to total 28,560 crore rupees over five years, say government spokesmen, who describe the initiative as "game-changing."
The Office of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the Health Ministry to set up a new central procurement agency for bulk drug-buying as quickly as possible, and individual states have been sent the 348-product 2011 National List of Essential Medicines for use as reference. The states, which will finance 25% of the programme, will also be required to establish their own essential drugs lists (EDL), based on their particular local needs
Under the programme, states will procure medicines through an open tender, directly from manufacturers and importers. Firms applying for the tenders will be required to have Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance certificates, no-conviction certificates and specified annual turnover, and the products they supply for the scheme must have "not for sale" printed on their packaging, say government officials.
Also, it will be made mandatory for all doctors working in the public sector to prescribe generics only
Well, I think that Big Pharma somehow will stop this communistic altruistic behaviour! Sooner or later!
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