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Doctor-MPs Urge PM to Lift Rare-Disease Funding Cap as ERT Patients Face Immediate Risk

They argue the NPRD 2021 Rs 50 lakh cap fails lifelong ERT needs, resulting in reported deaths with dozens at imminent risk.

Overview

  • The Indian Medical Parliamentarians’ Forum, a cross-party group of 45 doctor lawmakers led by Dr Anil Bonde, submitted formal representations to the Prime Minister and the Health Minister declaring a humanitarian emergency.
  • The forum reports about 60 Lysosomal Storage Disorder patients have already exhausted the Rs 50 lakh limit, leaving no funded pathway to continue therapy.
  • Nearly 100 people currently receiving Enzyme Replacement Therapy face forced discontinuation as funding stalls, with clinicians warning that even brief breaks can trigger metabolic crises, irreversible organ damage, or death.
  • The submission cites more than 60 deaths linked to delayed starts or treatment interruptions, including 20 in the past year.
  • The MPs seek three actions: waive or extend the cap for LSD patients, create a ring-fenced continuum-of-care finance mechanism under NPRD 2021, and streamline Centres of Excellence to speed approvals and disbursals.