from Daijiworld News Network's special correspondent in Panaji

Panaji, Feb 6: Free medicines to the people below poverty line (BPL) would soon be a dream come true with union chemicals, fertilizers and steel ministry working towards it.

"The government will propose free medicine distribution to BPL people,’’ union chemicals, fertilizers and steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Sunday. In order to cushion the extra burden posed by this scheme, the union government would impose 2 per cent extra tax on the tax-payers. "This will contribute to the tune of Rs 18,000 crore annually,’’ Paswan said.

The ministry is toying with the concept of roping in pharmaceutical companies and health insurance firms to implement the scheme. "Cards can be provided to the BPL people who will flash it to the chemists while purchasing the drugs,’’ the union minister stated.

The union government intends to make all the medicines free for poor people. `"here are many people who can’t buy even cheapest medicine. This scheme would do away with their problem,’’ Paswan stated.

Besides this scheme, the union government also intends to work on the prices of the drugs, which are excessively priced. With meeting of pharmaceutical advisory board scheduled on February 11, the ministry will discuss all these schemes with the industry representatives and government officials before including them in the Pharmaceutical policy.

"The policy would be mixed of recommendations by Sandhu committee and Pranav Sen committee,’’ the minister stated.

Working out modalities for cheaper medicines at hospitals, Paswan advocated imitation of Rajasthan model in which drugs are directly purchased from the manufacturers which slashes the price to the tune of 50 per cent.

The union minister felt that the drugs are not highly priced at the point of its manufacturing. "Middle-men and few companies imply exorbitant pricings on the drugs making them dearer,’’ Paswan said.