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The state government on Thursday launched a scheme to provide expensive cancer drugs and immunosuppressant medicines to consumers at zero-margin prices through Karunya pharmacies.
The drugs will be distributed through counters at selected Karunya pharmacies. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will launch the zero-profit drugs online on Thursday. Health Minister Veena George will attend the event at Karunya pharmacy attached to Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.
In the first phase, 247 branded oncology drugs will be available through special counters at 14 Karunya outlets in the state. The counters will be manned by newly appointed staff.
Government intervention to control drug prices will significantly reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses. Currently, more than 7,000 drugs are sold in 74 Karunya pharmacies across the state at prices far below the market price.
You may recall that Karunya Pharmacy was set up in 2012 with the aim of providing medicines at lower prices. At that time, around 107 cancer drugs were sold through Karunya Pharmacy at prices much lower than the open market price. At that time, Kerala State Health Services Corporation used to charge 7% profit to cover operational costs.
This time, KMSC tried to sell cancer drugs at the same price it procured from pharmaceutical companies, without taking any profit.
While the program was launched with much fanfare, many are skeptical about its sustainability given the state’s dire financial situation. Furthermore, unless the program is run cleanly and closely monitored, there is always the possibility that private pharmaceutical companies could take advantage of the situation.
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