The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre has decided to pursue all major decisions taken by the previous government in the healthcare sector. The Union Ministry of Health is learnt to be working on a bill to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to enhance the punishment for spurious drug operators up to death penalty. The free AIDS drug programme and the decision to set up AIIMS model super specialty healthcare institutions in other regions of the country have also been endorsed by the new government.

Replying to a query in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi informed that the government proposes to amend D&C Act on the basis of recommendations made by Mashalkar Committee.

The salient amendments proposed under the bill include: Enhancement in punishments relating to spurious drugs upto death penalty or imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 10 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to a fine of Rs 1 lakh or upto three time the value of the goods seized, whichever is higher; penalties for subsequent offences to be enhanced up 10 years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs 1 lakh; offences relating to spurious drugs to be made non-bailable and cognizable; provision for setting up of special courts for speedy trial of offences relating to spurious or adulterated drugs; to confer powers upon police officers not below the rank of Sub-Inspector or other designated officer to institute prosecutions under the said Act; provision for compounding of offences for minor offences under the Act.

Replying to another question, Dr Anbumani Ramdoss informed that free treatment for AIDS will be introduced in 16 hospitals during the year. Pointing out that the treatment is currently available in 8 centres, he said that these medicines were being given to 1047 patients free of cost. While the present cost incurred is about Rs 1500 per month per patient, the ministry is talking to the pharmaceutical companies to bring down the prices of medicines substantially, he said.

The central government has also given green signal to continue the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna wherein it was decided in-principle to set up one AIIMS-type institution each in the states of Bihar (Patna), Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Orissa (Bhubaneshwar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttaranchal (Rishikesh). Under the scheme, it was also proposed to upgrade one medical college each in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to the level of proposed AIIMS like institutions.