JOIN USBrisk business at generic drug store on Day One
The generic drug counter inaugurated at the Victoria Hospital premises on Thursday received an overwhelming response with over 300 customers buying the prescribed drugs.
The drug seller at the counter said everything from pain killers, to injective antibiotics, to protein supplements were in great demand. The counter did brisk business with sales worth Rs 8,000 recorded on Day One. As of now, the store will function from 8 am to 8 pm and is expected to function round-the-clock shortly.
The sellers were surprised to see buyers coming from as far as Sanjaynagar to the drug store to purchase medicines. Many even placed orders at the counter for those medicines that were not available. The seller said manufacture of generic drugs is almost nil in the country and the few drugs that are produced do not have the market. With this designated store, the demand for generic drugs is expected to increase, he said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda inaugurated a 20-bed neo-natal intensive care unit at Vani Vilas Hospital; MRI, x-ray facilities and generic drug counter at the Victoria Hospital. Speaking on the occasion, he said the government was making honest efforts to upgrade government hospitals in the State to the standard of private super-speciality hospitals.
“I am aware of the healthcare requirements of the poor as 60 per cent of the people who visit me during ‘Janata Darshan’ are those who seek help for surgeries and other health requirements. Nearly Rs 42 crore from the chief minister’s health fund has been distributed to the needy so far,” he said.
Medical Education Minister SA Ramdas said there are nearly 440 identified drugs, of which only 170 drugs are controlled by the Drug Control Programme. As many as 270 drugs are sold across the counter at decontrolled prices in the market.
“This generic drug counter will sell medicines at rates 80 per cent less than the MRP; branded drugs and orthopaedic implants at cost 50 per cent less than the MRP. A government order will be issued shortly, instructing doctors to prescribe only those generic drugs that are available at the counter,” he said.
Ramdas said that in the supplementary budget in July 2012, provision will be made to recruit nurses and paramedical staff. A proposal will be placed to make the existing Group ‘D’ jobs permanent. Against 1,030 sanctioned posts, there are over 2,014 Group ‘D’ workers employed at present. The government has recruited 214 Group ‘D’ workers in Hubli medical college, 216 in Bellary medical college and 214 in Shimoga medical college, the minister said.