Bhopal |HL
Aiming to provide generic medicines in affordable prices the state government is to launch Jan Aushadhi Stores in 254 locations across the state .
The new scheme will strengthen supply of generic drugs in government-run health centres.
Currently, the state government provides 241 medicines free. With opening of Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS), number of drugs will go up to 649 medicines along with 161 surgical and consumable items.
Drug and medical supplies will cost 40% to 400% less when bought from Jan Aushadhi stores. For instance, a strip of analgesics for pain and aches can cost as low as Rs 2.30 against a branded medicines, which cost 20 times more. “The state government is committed to processing the licences of applicants under the JAS scheme on priority,” said principal secretary health Gauri Singh.
“Five new JAS have been proposed for Bhopal. JAS will make available quality medicines at affordable price,” said district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Veena Sinha. JAS began in 2008 with first of the its stores began operating from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal. Union minister of health and family welfare JP Nadda is expected to inaugurate a JAS centre in Bhopal this month, sources said. On his visit to Jabalpur in November, Nadda announced a drop in price of nearly 2,000 medicines, which will be made available through Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) programme. He was attending a programme at Jabalpur Medical College. Most of these medicines would be made available at 60% less than the MRP, while in some cases, there would be 90% discount.
While it sounds like a wonderful plan, there are just 50 AMRIT outlets in the country. The government is planning to expand this network. In October, Minister of state for health Anupriya Patel promised opening up of 300 such outlets ‘soon’. But it remains to be seen how soon this would actually happen.The Union government scheme seeks to popularise use of unbranded generic medicines to pare actual expenses on medicines for common man and make health care affordable and safe, she said.
Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) provides one-time assistance of Rs 2.50 lakh for start-up cost for setting up a JAS.
Inputs-Agencies
