Maha to set up stores to provide cheap medicines to poor

Maharashtra Government would set up a chain of medical shops across the state that would sell cheap and generic medicines to people from the lower income group, the Legislative Council was informed today.
The Government will also "positively consider" providing subsidy for life-saving drugs so that they are not out of reach of the needy people, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat said.
Currently, NGOs and private institutions buy generic medicines and make them available for those having BPL cards.
But now the Government will procure these drugs and make them available for the poor, he said.
"The Government will buy generic medicines and also make them available to people through a chain of shops to be set up across the state," he said while replying to a calling attention motion.

Speaking on the motion, Sanjay Dutt (Congress) raised the issue of spurious medicines being sold to patients in the state.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is unable to keep a check on all shops as many posts in the department are lying vacant.
"When the FDA conducted a surprise check on 281 Government hospitals and healthcare centres and examined around 2,000 medicines, it found that 335 of these medicines were spurious," Dutt said.
He said "12.36 per cent of the medicines coming in the state from Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Karnataka were found to be of low quality. Consumption of these drugs would have disastrous effect on patients. But FDA is not being able to keep a watch on incoming medicines as they are understaffed."

Bapat said there are a total of 1,176 sanctioned posts in the FDA department, of which 352 are vacant. He assured the House the Government will soon fill the vacant posts. Until that happens, the Government will make alternative arrangements to make up for the deficient staff.
"Until we fill up the vacant posts, we will ask retired inspectors of FDA to step in. They will work on a contract basis. Also, those who have done apprentice course or diploma in Pharmacy can be roped in," he said.
Manikrao Thakre (Congress) alleged that policies pursued by the Central Government have led to an increase in the rates of medicines for life threatening diseases like cancer and kidney ailments.

He sought to know if the Maharashtra Government will provide subsidy for such medicines.
"The Government will positively consider this," the Minister said.