Drug prices won't be hiked: Health minister dda

Alappuzha (Kerala), Feb 20: Union Health Minister J.P. dda on Saturday ruled out the possibility of any increase in drug prices due to a hike in import taxes, and said medicines would be made available at cheaper rates.

“It has been wrongly reported that there will be hike in drug prices in India due to hike in import taxes. On the contrary, medicines are likely to become cheaper. Apart from generic drugs, medicines for cancer and cardiovascular surgical implants will also be available at 60 to 90 percent subsidised rates,” dda said in his address at a meeting at the state-run T.D. Medical College here. After laying the foundation stone of the Rs.150-crore super specialty block for the medical college, dda said his ministry was willing to provide assistance in setting up AMRIT centres — Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment — in Kerala if the state government gives land for the scheme’s implementation.(IANS)