The decision of Supreme Court over costly medicines has brought a major relife for the cancer patients in state. When The Pioneer contacted some cancer patients, doctors and medicos in various hospital of the state their responses were overwhelming.
SK Sharma, a retired school teacher from Mahasamund waits outside the cancer ward of Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital praying for the life of her grand-daughter who is fighting against blood cancer lying in cancer ward number 63 of the hospital. Talking with him one can understand the significance of recent judgement passed by the Supreme Court over the patent of cancer drugs.
Sharma explains, “We had taken our granddaughter to a very famous hospital situated in Tamil Nadu, but we were not able to afford the fees charged over there. We were also ready to sell some of our land in Mahasamund but then also we found that we could not afford the cost of treatment, so have brought her (grand-daughter) to Raipur,” says a disconsolate Sharma. He further tells that the decision of Supreme Court regarding generic medicines will help a lot people like us.
Mahendra Kumar Patel who has travelled about 250 kms from Janjgir Champa to admit one of his relatives suffering from cancer in the Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital the biggest Government hospital of Chhattisgarh also holds similar views. He says “Cancer does not discriminate between haves and have-nots. So at least the medicine should be available for all so that precious life is not wasted simply because someone cannot afford the price of drugs.” The Supreme Court has taken a good decision, says Patel.
Dr Yosuf Memon, Director and cancer surgeon at Sanjivani CBB USA Cancer Hospital Raipur also hails the decision of the apex court and says that it will definitely benefit the residents of State. There is a major section of patients who cannot afford the costly treatment however, this decision has come as a relief for them. The leading cancer drug suppliers also shared the same view. They informed the earlier the sale of generic drug is now expected to rise.
It may be reminded that the Swiss drugmaker Norvatis was denied a patent on the grounds that the new version was only slightly different from the old. The decision means generic drugmakers can continue to sell copies of the drug at a lower price in India. The one month dose of ethical drug would cost more than `1 lakh while the generic form of same medicine in available within `20,000.