Affordable Price of Injections for Serious Injuries

Affordable Price of Injections for Serious Injuries

As informed by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, many of the drugs required for the treatment of rare diseases are expensive as they are imported from outside the country. National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 (NPRD, 2021) facilitates financial and medical support of up to Rs. 50 Lakh per patient for treatment of any of the 63 identified rare diseases through 15 designated Centres of Excellence.

Further, the Union Cabinet on 24.02.2021 has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals with the objective to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities by increasing investment and production in the pharmaceuticals sector and contributing to product diversification to high-value goods in the pharmaceutical sector. Risdiplam, which is the API used in formulations to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is being manufactured by Biophore India Pharmaceuticals Private Limited under PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals. Further, Natco Pharma Limited has launched the generic version of the drug in Indian market and is manufacturing the product domestically.

This information was given by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.