constraints faced by Indians regarding the medicine sector

The constraints faced by Indians regarding the medicine sector can be seen under the following heads –

1. Accessibility – 
(i) TN Model of Jan Aushadi Scheme has not been replicated in other parts of the country
(ii) Low health insurance coverage and leaving out certain widely used drugs(e.g. fot TB, diabetes etc.) out of price-ceiling regime

2. Affordability – 
(i) Calculation of drug prices is based on average of market-prices and not on cost-prices which has resulted in pharma companies fixing prices many times over production cost
(ii) While fixing price-ceilings, regional variability to accessibility to drugs was not factored in

3. Availability – 
(i) Issues of IPR, compulsory-licencing and export to developing countries has discouraged foreign investment
(ii) Low domestic research into drug-manufacturing due to shortage of funds, infrastructure in labs etc.

However, these constraints have also resulted in some positive development such as – 
1. A National Intellectual Property Policy is being drafted to ensure better IPR protection and improve foreign investments
2. 100% FDI in medical devices sector has been permitted which is expected to help in medicine-manufacturing
3. Impetus to traditional medicinal knowledge under the newly-formed Ministry of Ayush
4. Awareness campaigns under schemes like AMRIT etc.

Hence, we see that although there are constraints to easy drug-access, the government has been taking proactive measures to address the issue.

Medical infrastructure

The recent findings by World Bank that the number of hospital beds per thousand people in India is much lower than the world average has revealed the creaking medical infrastructure status.

Importance of Medical infrastructure:

1. India is prone to seasonal diseases (Eg: Dengue). Robust medical infrastructure is utmost importance to shift essential drugs on emergency basis.

2. The diversified demographic profile of India needs readiness to cater to the needs of all sections of people. Eg: Gender sensitive medicine, Geriatrics and Mental health care for youth.

3. Vaccination programmes-Mission Indradhanush and Universal Immunization program- need well trained medical human resources to achieve success.

4. Changing consumption patterns and lifestyles would lead to more chronic diseases. They should be handled to maintain healthy workforce.

Measures:

1. Right-sizing public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP in accordance with the population size.

2. Harmony of purpose between the public and the private healthcare delivery systems to achieve public health goals.

3. Empowering ASHAs role by training and pay revision.

4. Robust Medical human resource management policy to train and manage staff to serve on Pan-India basis.

5. Restructure and revise the draft of National Health Policy to suit the demographic needs.

6. Special emphasis on primary care and child health care that integrates state, district and local governments with national health policy goals.

The demographic dividend of India can be harnessed not just with skill development alone but by complementing with sound health care policies to keep the workforce strong.