Shri Arunjaitley

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Shri ArunJaitley

A-44, Kailash Colony, New Delhi.

Sub: Appeal for introducing and passing NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Amendment Bill 2013 in RajyaSabha

Respected Sir/ Madam,

Today, the Hon’bleLokSabha passed the NDPS Amendment Billafter discussion. This has given hope to the millions of people in the country whosuffer excruciating pain from serious and life-limiting diseases including cancer and HIV/AIDS that dramatically impact quality of life. It is crucial now that the bill is now taken up for discussion and passed in the RajyaSabha in this extended winter session of Parliament.

In India, there are approximately 28 lakh cancer cases at any time, resulting in five lakh cancer deaths per year. Two-thirds of these patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and more than a million cancer patients every year are estimated to be suffering from moderate to severe pain. About 2.5 million Indians are living with HIV/AIDS and more than a million suffer from pain. Experts estimate that approximately 80,000 children suffer from cancer and 2, 20,000 kids are living with HIV/AIDS. These children require pain relief and supportive care while less than one per cent receive the required care.

The passage of the NDPS Amendment Bill will lead to improved access to pain relief medicines and help ease the suffering of millions of patients in India, thereby improving their quality of life.It will reiterate India’s commitment towards creating a robust healthcare system in India.

On behalf of millions of patients, we seek your intervention and help in getting this important amendment bill passed before the session ends. It would be critical in transforming the lives of millions of Indians suffering with pain.

Yours sincerely,

M.R. Rajagopal, MD
Chairman, Pallium India
Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Policy and Training on Access to Pain Relief
Phone: 0889 344 0306