《中英對照讀新聞》India to give free generic drugs to hundreds of millions 印度將免費提供學名藥給數億人民

《中英對照讀新聞》India to give free generic drugs to hundreds of millions 印度將免費提供學名藥給數億人民

2012-10-17

◎魏國金

India has put in place a $5.4 billion policy to provide free medicine to its people.

印度已實施一項價值高達54億美元的政策，以提供免費藥物給人民。

From city hospitals to tiny rural clinics, India’s public doctors will soon be able to prescribe free generic drugs to all comers, vastly expanding access to medicine in a country where public spending on health was just $4.50 per person last year.

從城市醫院到鄉村小診所，印度公立醫院醫師不久將可以開免費的學名藥給所有求診者，在健康公共支出去年每人僅4.5美元的國家，這項措施大幅擴展藥物的取得。

Under the plan, doctors will be limited to a generics-only drug list and face punishment for prescribing branded medicines, a major disadvantage for pharmaceutical giants in one of the world’s fastest-growing drug markets.

在此計畫下，醫師用藥將僅限定在名單上的學名藥，開專利藥將面臨受罰。在這個全球藥物市場成長最快速的一個地區，此舉將讓藥廠巨擘蒙受重大損失。

"Without a doubt, it is a considerable blow to an already beleaguered industry, " said KPMG partner Chris Stirling.

「無疑的，這對已受困的產業是重大打擊，」安侯建業聯合會計師事務所合夥人史特林說。

But the initiative would overhaul a system where healthcare is often a luxury, despite 40 percent of the people living below the poverty line, or $1.25 a day or less.

不過這項創舉將大幅改革（印度醫療）制度，在該制度中，健康照護通常十分昂貴，儘管40％的人民生活在貧窮線以下，或者每日生活費1.25美元或更少。

Within five years, up to half of India’s 1.2 billion people are likely to take advantage of the scheme, the government says. Others are likely to continue visiting private hospitals and clinics, where the scheme will not operate. （Reuters）

5年內，印度12億人口中高達半數人民可能受惠於這項計畫，政府指出。其他可能繼續到民營醫院與診所就醫，該項計畫將不在這些醫療院所運作。 （路透）

新聞辭典

generic drugs︰學名藥，指原廠的專利期已過，其他藥廠可依原廠公佈的成分、製藥方式等資訊生產的藥物。與學名藥相對的是branded drugs（專利藥、原廠藥）。

put in place︰動詞片語，實施、施行。例句︰The government will put in place special measures to control the spread of the deadly disease.（政府將實施特別措施以控制該致命疾病的擴散。）

overhaul︰動詞，徹底革新。例句︰The old system of education should be overhauled.（舊的教育制度應全面改革。）