Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Kerala Defends Continued Use of Lower-Cost SMA Drug Natsmart
Kerala’s government says it will continue giving children with spinal muscular atrophy the lower-cost drug Natsmart.
Natsmart is a generic version of risdiplam made by Indian company Natco Pharma, while children had previously received Roche’s branded drug Evrysdi.
The dispute began when parents at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram noticed bottles labelled “Clinical Trial” or “Physician’s Sample” and questioned the switch.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan says the medicine is safe and meets regulatory requirements, and that doctors answered parents’ concerns.
The CPI(M) opposition wants details on how the medicine was procured and what quality checks were done.
It has also asked whether parents were informed about testing and who would be responsible if children had side effects.
An expert committee head defended the medicine, while the government says supply will continue.
Kerala defended its decision to continue supplying Natsmart, a lower-cost generic version of risdiplam, to children with spinal muscular atrophy.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said the drug was safe and that doctors had addressed parents’ concerns.
The controversy followed reports that some bottles supplied at SAT Hospital carried “Physician’s Sample” or clinical-trial labels.
The Opposition CPI(M) questioned the procurement process and the quality checks conducted before the medicine was supplied.
Hospital officials said sample bottles were replaced with medicine from the government supply.
- Who
- Kerala’s government and Health Minister K. Muraleedharan defended the drug. The Opposition CPI(M) questioned its procurement and checks.
- What
- The government defended continuing to provide Natsmart, a generic version of risdiplam, to children with SMA.
- When
- The minister defended the decision on Friday. The articles were published on October 24, 2026.
- Where
- At SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Why
- Some bottles carried physician-sample or clinical-trial labels, prompting questions about the medicine’s supply, safety and quality checks.
Kerala government
Opposition CPI(M)
Drug choice
Kerala government
The government said Natsmart was safe, met regulatory requirements and was more affordable.
Opposition CPI(M)
CPI(M) leaders questioned the procurement and quality checks before Natsmart was supplied.
Communication with parents
Kerala government
The government said doctors had explained the switch and addressed parents’ concerns.
Opposition CPI(M)
CPI(M) leaders said parents needed reassurance before the medicine was replaced.
The previous LDF government introduced a free-medicine initiative under which children with SMA received Evrysdi.
The purchase procedure for Natsmart was initiated.
Parents arriving at the SMA clinic sought medicine, and the hospital obtained sample bottles from Natco.
The government supply of Natsmart arrived.
The health minister defended the decision to continue providing Natsmart.
- Generic medicine
- Natsmart, a generic version of risdiplam
- Manufacturer
- Natco Pharma, an Indian pharmaceutical company
- Branded medicine previously supplied
- Evrysdi, manufactured by Roche
- Hospital
- SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram
- Patients
- The minister said there were 150 patients
- Purchase procedure
- Initiated in February 2026
6 sources
Parents were counselled about generic drug, says doctor in charge of SMA clinic at SAT Hospital
Keralam Health Minister Defends Switch To Indian-Made SMA Drug, Says Supply Will Continue
What people are saying
There is no confusion. There are only 150 patients. Their parents asked some questions to the doctors, and the doctors explained everything.
This is not negligence. Not a lapse, because doctors explained things.
If the concern is over the label, there was ‘physician’s sample’ written on it. It means it is a tested molecule. The container contains the same medicine.
We have no issue with it, but the government must convince the parents that we are replacing the old medicine with a new one. The new one is being bought at …