Orphan drug policy

Millions of people in developing countries do not have access to health care services and medications which are available in developed countries. Most of the rare diseases are genetic in nature. They disproportionately impact children: 50% of new cases are in children and are responsible for 35% of deaths before the age of 1 year, 10% between the ages of 1 and 5 years and 12% between 5 and 15 years (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2017, p.9). One of the main problems is that doctors are not able to study the disease as it is genetic in nature. Despite having the medication, they do not know how to track and treat the disease. However, patients suffering from rare diseases have same rights of care like any other patient. The major concern related to it is of accessibility and awareness. This shows an obvious link between the disease and poverty which raises a serious question on the cost of a treatment which is unaffordable by the patient. Development of Orphan drug policies are least of pharmaceutical companies. They work on the calculation of number of vaccines manufactured on cost of per vaccination. Market is a precious venture for pharmaceutical companies. They are hesitant on the sale of the product. Research done for the development of are diseases and money invested in it will not be recovered by market sales. Thus, government has asked ministries to draft a policy balancing both the issue simultaneously.