Maha: 24/7 generic medicine stores to be opened in civic hospitals

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet has approved opening 24x7 generic medicine stores at the civic-run hospitals across the state under the central government policy of ‘Jan Aushadhi.’

The proposal was accepted in line with the suffering patients as they were forced to buy certain medicines from outside the hospital due to the unavailability of some specific medications.

The Jan Aushadhi Scheme (Public Medicine Scheme) is a direct market intervention scheme launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt.

In addition to providing patients with access to all kinds of medicines, the round-the-clock medicine stores will also allow them to purchase them at affordable costs anytime.

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A multi-state cooperative society, the National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement and Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd (NACOF), will set up generic medical stores on the campus of the hospitals. The organization will also prioritize disabled persons and women along with other patients with the medicines.

Each shop will have three registered pharmacists and the recruitment process for the post will be done soon. Since the shops will be open 24x7, patients in need of emergency medicines will benefit from these shops greatly.

It also came to light that the government of most of the states directs their doctors to prescribe generic medicines instead of branded ones due to the high cost which creates havoc for the patients.

‘’While branded medicines are costly, generic medicine can be availed for a much lower price. Generally, the price difference between branded and generic medicines can go up to 70%. This way, generic medicines can reduce the expense significantly,’’ Nitin Shinde, president of Prabodhan Goregaon Consumer Co-operative Society told HT.

“The NACOF has experience in setting up and running generic medicine shops in prominent hospitals in Delhi, including Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and S K Hospital. Considering their experience and infrastructure the NACOF should be allowed to open generic medicine stores on the lines of ‘Amrut Stores’ in the area of hospitals run by urban local bodies,” the proposal note for cabinet approval read.

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