UPSC Articles
Anti-diabetic medicines get price caps
Part of: Prelims and GS II – Health
Context Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling prices for 12 anti-diabetic generic medicines, including glimepiride tablets, glucose injection and intermediate acting insulin solution to make it possible for every Indian to afford medical treatment.
About The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
- It is a government regulatory agency that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.
- It was constituted in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),
- Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
What is diabetes?
- Diabetes is a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
- Type I diabetes: It mostly affects children of age 14-16 years. This type occurs when the body fails to produce sufficient insulin. They must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.
- Type 2 diabetes: While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. The population with 45 and above age group is the most affected with it.
- This is the most common type of diabetes and it has strong links with obesity.
- Diabetes affects the five major organs – Kidney, Heart, Blood vessels, Nervous System, and Eyes (retina).
- Responsible factors: Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, harmful use of alcohol, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, etc.
