Medical Services Corporation Ltd, Kerela has made a decision in the favor of their citizens. The Corporation have decided to provide expensive life-saving drugs at free or low-cost prices to the patients. These lifesaving drugs will be available at major government hospitals in Kerela. The patients under BPL limit can avail these drugs free of cost while others can buy them at subsidized rates against a medical prescription.
These drugs from government hospital pharmacies will include Tirofiban, Tenecteplase, and Retuximab. Tirofiban injection is used to prevent blood clots in the arteries which previously cost Rs. 25,000 per dose will now be available free to the BPL patients. Tenecteplase is used for acute ischemic stroke while Retuximab is used for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
The state health department has allocated Rs. 125 crore under this scheme to make 254 types of drugs available in major government hospitals in Kerela. Currently , such medicines are available free for BPL patients under the Karunya scheme in selected government and private hospitals.