Draft national policy for treatment of rare diseases under discussion: Govt

NEW DELHI, Apr 11:
A draft national policy for treatment of rare diseases in the country along with the provisions of providing financial support to eligible patients is under discussion, the Centre said today.
The Health Ministry has also placed a consultation paper in public domain which proposes to establish the identity of prescribing doctors, dispensing pharmacists and the beneficiaries with regard to e-pharmacies.
“The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) under the Health Ministry has prepared a draft national policy for treatment of rare diseases in India, and is under discussion,” Union Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
He said the policy will cover rare diseases, their treatment procedures, financial support to eligible patients etc. “At present, the government also waives the requirement of clinical trials in case of drugs approved for such diseases in other countries,” he said.
Replying to a question in the Upper House, Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said his Ministry has placed a consultation paper in public domain for regulating e-pharmacies.
“The consultation paper proposes to establish the identity of prescribing doctors, dispensing pharmacists and the beneficiaries,” he said. (PTI)