What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : On Rare Diseases, Falling Short

Context: Inaccessible life-saving drugs and treatments     

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 21: Supreme Court recognizes the right to health and medical care as a fundamental right.
• Article 41 (DPSP): Mandates public assistance in cases of sickness and disablement.

 

National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 (NPRD)

• Approved on March 30, 2021, after Delhi High Court intervention.
• Key Features
  1. Financial support capped at ₹50 lakh per patient.
  2. Directs collaboration with departments (e.g. Pharmaceuticals) to facilitate local drug production.

 

Judicial Interventions

• Delhi High Court: Criticized the government’s helpless approach and formed a 5-member committee (May 2023) to oversee NPRD implementation.
• Kerala High Court: Ordered continued treatment for a patient who exhausted funds. It was put to stay by Supreme Court after ministry appeal.

 

Challenges in Addressing Rare Diseases

• High Cost of Treatment
  1. Example: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) treatment costs exceed ₹72 lakh annually (risdiplam).
  2. Financial Cap: NPRD’s ₹50 lakh limit is insufficient, forcing patients to discontinue treatment.
• Inadequate Financial Support
  1. Ministry cites lack of funds to extend assistance beyond ₹50 lakh.
  2. Registered Patients: 13,479 in National Registry (likely underreported).
• Patent Barriers and Local Production
  1. Monopoly Exploitation: Patent holders often refuse to market life-saving drugs in India.
  2. Generic Potential: First generic versions can reduce prices by 90-95% (e.g. risdiplam, trikafta).
• Implementation Delays: Policy delays and funding restrictions leave patients, including children, without treatment.

 

Government and Judicial Responses

• Ministry’s Approach
  1. Reluctance to invoke NPRD’s legal/policy measures (e.g. compulsory licensing).
  2. Prioritized securing stays on court orders rather than addressing patient needs.
• Court Directives and Stays
  1. Delhi HC: Advised exploring policy options like price negotiations and local manufacturing.
  2. Supreme Court: Stayed Kerala HC’s order, urging the ministry to act but no follow-through.

 

Proposed Solutions and Recommendations

• Promoting Local Drug Production
  1. Utilize NPRD’s Paragraph 11: Collaborate with Departments of Pharmaceuticals and Industry to boost domestic manufacturing.
  2. Cost Reduction: Local production can slash prices (e.g. SMA drugs).
• Addressing Patent Monopolies
  1. Compulsory Licensing: Use provisions under Indian Patent Act to bypass monopolies for public health needs.
  2. Legal Action: Challenge patent holders refusing to market drugs in India.
• Policy Reforms and Funding
  1. Increase financial allocation for rare diseases.
  2. Implement Delhi HC’s suggestions: crowdfunding, CSR partnerships, and price negotiations.

 

Ethical and Legal Concerns

• Equity in Healthcare Access
  1. Denial of treatment due to cost violates constitutional rights (Articles 21, 41).
  2. Impact on Families: Children suffer despite available therapies.
• Government Accountability
  1. Failure to act on court recommendations raises questions about commitment to public health.
  2. Conflict: Prioritizing fiscal constraints over fundamental rights.

 

Way Forward and Conclusion

• Urgent Need: Address funding gaps, leverage generic manufacturing, and enforce patent reforms.
• Role of Judiciary: Courts must ensure policy compliance while balancing executive discretion.
• India’s rare disease policy requires holistic reforms, political will, and ethical prioritization of health rights over administrative inertia.

Editorial 2 : Reaching Out

Context: Elevation of India’s bilateral ties with Thailand to a strategic level and BIMSTEC summit.

India-Thailand Strategic Partnership

• Historical Neglect
  1. Thailand is geographically proximate to India but historically lacked strategic prominence in Delhi’s foreign policy.
  2. Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore dominated India’s diplomatic focus.
  3. Thailand ranks as the 4th largest trading partner for India in Southeast Asia despite being the region’s 2nd largest economy.
• Recent Advancements
  1. Bilateral Visit: Modi’s Bangkok visit (first bilateral PM visit in over a decade) strengthened ties.
  2. Key Initiatives
     • Visa-free travel for Indians boosted Thailand’s popularity as a leisure destination for India’s middle class.
     • Enhanced defence and advanced technology cooperation, including outer space collaboration.
     • Growing collaboration between security establishments of both nations.
• Strategic Significance
  1. Strengthens India’s Act East Policy by deepening regional integration.
  2. Positions Thailand as a critical partner for India in Southeast Asia.

 

BIMSTEC Revitalization

• Background of BIMSTEC
  1. It was launched in 1997 to connect South Asia (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand).
  2. It has witnessed limited progress due to weak institutionalization and lack of momentum.
• India’s Shift from SAARC to BIMSTEC
  1. SAARC Stagnation: Pakistan’s obstruction of regional integration at the 2014 Kathmandu Summit prompted India to prioritize BIMSTEC.
  2. Rebooting BIMSTEC
     • Institutional reforms: Adoption of a BIMSTEC Charter for formal structure.
     • Expanded cooperation areas: Maritime security, trade, technology, and climate resilience.
• Key Outcomes of the 2023 Bangkok Summit
  1. Maritime Transport Agreement: Streamlines regional connectivity and trade.
  2. Vision Document: Outlines long-term goals for economic and technical collaboration.

 

Engagement with Key Neighbours

• Myanmar
  1. Humanitarian Assistance: India offered aid post-earthquake (operation Brahma) amid Myanmar’s civil war and political instability.
  2. Strategic Concerns
     • Myanmar’s instability threatens BIMSTEC’s role as a South-Southeast Asia bridge.
     • International isolation complicates regional cooperation efforts.
• Bangladesh
  1. Post Hasina Tensions: Relations strained since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024.
  2. PM Modi’s Diplomatic Outreach
     • Meeting with interim government adviser Muhammad Yunus aimed at reducing hostilities.
     • The PM highlighted concerns over violence against minorities, hostile rhetoric, and border incidents.
     • He emphasized on pragmatic engagement to preserve gains from the Hasina era.

 

Challenges

• Myanmar’s Instability: Risks derailing BIMSTEC’s connectivity agenda.
• Bangladesh’s Political Climate: New government’s stance threatens past bilateral progress.
• BIMSTEC’s Slow Progress: Requires sustained momentum to avoid SAARC-like stagnation.

 

Opportunities

• Regional Connectivity: BIMSTEC’s maritime and transport agreements can boost trade.
• Security Collaboration: Counter-terrorism and defence tech partnerships with Thailand.
• Economic Integration: Leverage Thailand’s economy to expand India’s Southeast Asian footprint.

 

Conclusion: PM Modi’s Bangkok engagements underscore India’s dual focus i.e. elevating bilateral ties with Thailand to counterbalance Southeast Asia’s economic giants and revitalising BIMSTEC as a credible alternative to SAARC for regional integration.