The Government will soon provide free supply of Essential Medicines in Public Health Facilities in the country. Addressing a Conference on Responsible Use of Medicines at Amsterdam in Netherland today, the Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, the move will provide affordable health care to the people by reducing out of pocket expenses of medicines.

An official release issued in New Delhi says that Mr. Azad said , this initiative will also promote rational use of medicines and reduce the consumption of inessential, unscientific and hazardous medicines. He said responsible and rational use of medicines is a crucial part of the national health policy and access to medicines is one of the vital tools needed to improve and maintain health.

The Minister said, India is facing an increasing threat of Anti Microbial Resistance and to tackle the threat the Ministry has developed the National Policy for Containment of Anti Microbial Resistance. The policy aims at prudent use of antibiotics, prevention of emergence of drug resistance and prevention of spread of transmission of resistant bacteria.