Jaipur, Aug 20 (IANS): Rajasthan has topped the 16-state chart detailing implementation of the free medicine scheme, being run under the National Health Mission, according to NHM Secretary Manoj Jhalani.

According to an NHM letter, the DVDMSA (Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System) coverage in Rajsthan is 77.26 per cent and proportion of online drug distribution counters, 96.03 per cent.

The expired quantity proportion, including breakage, wastage and loss, is just 7.43 per cent.

Congratulating people associated with the scheme, Medical and Health Minister Raghu Sharma said, "This comes as a great achievement for the medical and health department of Rajasthan. The scheme is the dream project of our government, which is being strengthened each day."

"Medicine for cancer, heart and kidney ailments were too expensive for the poor. Hence working on our manifesto, we ensured that people get free medicines for 104 serious diseases," Sharma said.

During the earlier Congress government, 608 medicines were being distributed free, he said and added, 104 medicines had been added to the list taking the total to 712, the highest in the country.

Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot was quite serious for the effective implementation of the scheme, launched on October 2, 2011, and hence Rajasthan topped the chart, he added.