Improvements in drug policy of Indian state of J&K through persistent advocacy and logical interventions by Civil Society Forum

Background:

Draft drug policy of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir was made available on its official website in the year 2009 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On studying the draft it was found to be deficient in many important aspects. Hence a sustained campaign was launched by Civil Society Forum, a group of activists drawn from diverse sectors like health, education, media, trade, industry, politics etc in order to incorporate necessary changes in the draft policy.

Objective/Aim:

To emphasize upon the importance of civil society interventions and involvement in policy making process and decisions, with a view to bring changes in government drug policies, necessary to ensure quality, safety, efficacy, availability and affordability of medicines.

Methods:

Through sustained lobbying, persistent advocacy, persuasive pressure, wide consultations and logical interventions, Civil Society Forum Kashmir got some significant changes incorporated in the draft drug policy of J&K state, introducing some fresh policy initiatives and novel approaches to tackle common problems of drug use in the society like spurious drugs, drug abuse, misuse of drugs belonging to Indian Systems of Medicines, over-the-counter sale of prescription drugs, recall and disposal of unwanted drugs etc.

Results:

Draft drug policy formulated by the J&K govt. in 2009 was mainly focussed on selection, procurement, storage and rational use of drugs particularly in govt health facilities. However it was totally deficient in vital policy provisions related to spurious drugs control, AYUSH drugs control, control of prescription drug abuse, recall and disposal of uwanted drugs, drug licensing regulation, control of unethical promotion of drugs, drug prosecution, hospital and clinical pharmacy services, pharmacy education regulation, drug price control, medical financing/health insurance, blood banking and transfusion etc. Through civil society interventions some of these provisions were accepted by the J&K govt. for incorporation in the modified draft whereas few others were rejected. Net outcome of interventions was that qualitatively a better draft could be evolved.

Conclusion/Discussion:

Taking cue from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, this paper demonstrates the need and importance of inclusion of civil society in policy making process and decisions for achieving the overall goal of making drugs of standard quality, good efficacy and reasonable safety available to common masses, particularly at govt. health centres. Experiences gained from J&K emphasize upon the need to replicate such activism in other Indian states too.