New Delhi : The proposal for the 12th Five Year Plan includes a new initiative to supply essential medicines free of cost for patients seeking healthcare in public health facilities, the health ministry said Tuesday.

"This is with a view to bring down out-of-pocket expenditure and thereby provide affordable healthcare to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society," Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He also said the framework for this initiative would include formulation of essential drug list, standard treatment guidelines, institutionalised procurement of quality essential medicines and supply chain management along with an accountability and oversight mechanism.