Yesudas forces state govt to provide cheap cancer drugs
Internationally-acclaimed singer Padmabhushan K. J. Yesudas has forced the Kerala government to provide life-saving drugs to cancer patients at cheaper rates.
Yesudas, almost 70 now, is well known for enthralling
music lovers since 1961. But what is not known is his crusade to bring inexpensive drugs to cancer patients. The singer runs Janapaksham, a non-government organisation. And it’s through this outfit that he launched a social movement, pressuring the state government to hand over cheap medicines to cancer patients.
When the price of life-saving medicines hit the ceiling, Janapaksham submitted a memorandum to Kerala health minister Sreemathi. Janapaksham, his NGO, led several campaigns in support of subsidised medicines.
He roped in icons like Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, film star Devan and social activist Benny John to promote his cause.
His efforts bore fruits after the health minister announced that the Kerala government would initially provide subsidised medicines to patients suffering from cancer through the Dhanwanthari Society, which falls under the Ernakulam General Hospital.
Later, the minister said the medicines would be routed through various Neethi Medical Stores, under the state co-operative department.
“A drug that costs Rs 2,500 in the open market is now available at Rs 450. We can not change the maximum retail price of drugs because it falls under the Union government’s purview.
However, we can source medicines at low prices and provide it through the government outlets,’’ said V. S. Achuthanandan, chief minister of Kerala and the grand old man of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Appreciating the chief ministers decision, Yesudas says: “Profit margins should be reasonable. It is sad that the country’s drug policy allows pharmaceutical companies to mint money at the cost of the poor.”
Apart from activism, Yesudas has been active at what he knows and does best - music. In January, 2009, the maestro took out a Sangeetha Yathra (musical Journey) with the slogan “Music for Peace”. Music director M. S. Vishwanathan, celebrated violinist L. Subramaniam, acclaimed Hindi playback singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy and Kavitha Karkare, wife of Mumbai’s 26/11 hero Hemanth Karkare, also took part in the programme.
Internationally-acclaimed singer Padmabhushan K. J. Yesudas has forced the Kerala government to provide life-saving drugs to cancer patients at cheaper rates.
Yesudas, almost 70 now, is well known for enthralling
music lovers since 1961. But what is not known is his crusade to bring inexpensive drugs to cancer patients. The singer runs Janapaksham, a non-government organisation. And it’s through this outfit that he launched a social movement, pressuring the state government to hand over cheap medicines to cancer patients.When the price of life-saving medicines hit the ceiling, Janapaksham submitted a memorandum to Kerala health minister Sreemathi. Janapaksham, his NGO, led several campaigns in support of subsidised medicines.
He roped in icons like Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, film star Devan and social activist Benny John to promote his cause.
His efforts bore fruits after the health minister announced that the Kerala government would initially provide subsidised medicines to patients suffering from cancer through the Dhanwanthari Society, which falls under the Ernakulam General Hospital.
Later, the minister said the medicines would be routed through various Neethi Medical Stores, under the state co-operative department.
“A drug that costs Rs 2,500 in the open market is now available at Rs 450. We can not change the maximum retail price of drugs because it falls under the Union government’s purview.
However, we can source medicines at low prices and provide it through the government outlets,’’ said V. S. Achuthanandan, chief minister of Kerala and the grand old man of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Appreciating the chief ministers decision, Yesudas says: “Profit margins should be reasonable. It is sad that the country’s drug policy allows pharmaceutical companies to mint money at the cost of the poor.”
Apart from activism, Yesudas has been active at what he knows and does best - music. In January, 2009, the maestro took out a Sangeetha Yathra (musical Journey) with the slogan “Music for Peace”. Music director M. S. Vishwanathan, celebrated violinist L. Subramaniam, acclaimed Hindi playback singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy and Kavitha Karkare, wife of Mumbai’s 26/11 hero Hemanth Karkare, also took part in the programme.
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