Key Points
New Delhi: Thalassemia patients at Delhis government hospitals are grappling with a double whammy amid a shortage of Desferal (deferoxamine mesylate) and a looming 50 percent price hike for the life-saving drug approved by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)...
However, patients at Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lady Hardinge and Sucheta Kriplani hospitals fear the economic burden it will add, especially as they are already forced to purchase the drug from outside sources due to its unavailability in hospitals...
The drug isnt always available, now they are asking to arrange either from the society or buy from the outside.. However, Dr. Ajay Shukla, director and medical superintendent at the hospital, said in an interview to ThePrint that there has been no shortage of Desferal at their facility...
Shobha Tuli, founding member of Thalassemics India, an NGO working nationwide for thalassemia patients, highlighted that the shortage of Desferal is not limited to Delhi, but is affecting those undergoing treatment in other parts of the country as well...
Since Desferal is an essential drug listed by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and included in the National Essential Medicines List (NLEM) by the Ministry of Health, it should be available without shortage, especially in district hospitals..
