After creating tremors in the healthcare sector by exposing the prevalent malpractices, actor Aamir Khan on Thursday took his battle to Parliament where he stood up for generic drugs.
Khan, along with three experts, appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, which is examining the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in pharmaceutical sector. He argued that companies will continue to make profit by selling substandard drugs to the poor.
The 47-year-old actor, who highlighted the maladies of the health sector in his TV show "Satyamev Jayate" recently, was invited to appear as a witness before the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Commerce which is examining the issue of FDI in pharma sector.
Aamir’s team, which included a doctor, submitted a report on FDI in the sector and his support for generic drugs before the panel, a PSC member said but refused to divulge much citing confidentiality.
Sources said that Khan spoke for about one hour before the 16-member-committee and answered a number of questions. Throughout the meeting, he was looking very confident, said a member.
Batting for generic medicines, Aamir suggested regulating FDI in pharma sector to protect the interests of smaller companies. He cited examples to explain how some companies were selling affordable generic drugs at exorbitant prices.
“For instance, a cancer treatment drug costs Rs 8,000 when it was sold as generic medicine but a similar medicine, made with same chemical, is sold at Rs 1.2 lakh though company brand name. This kind of discrepancies should be stopped,” Aamir was quoted as telling the committee.
Fruits of research
Later, answering a volley of questions from reporters on his support for generic medicines, Khan said certain vested interests have questioned the quality of such drugs which was uncalled for. "The regulatory body checks every drug before it is sold. Be it patented or non patented, branded or unbranded," he added.
When asked about some doctors and experts questioning his authority to comment on the issue, he said his stand was the result of a "thorough research" on the subject.
Khan said other states should follow the example of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu which are distributing free generic medicines to the poor after buying them at comparatively lower rates from companies.
As Khan came to Parliament House Library building to appear before the committee, a large number of employees of Parliament surrounded him and took his pictures.
Committee chairman Shanta Kumar rejected suggestions that the actor's appearance was more of a 'publicity stunt' and said anyone with an interest in the subject was free to depose before Parliamentary committees.