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Experts from different fraternity of health sector would explore the possibilities of introducing the concept of fair price medical shops in the country.
Specialists in the health sector from different parts of the country who gathered here for a three-day workshop on "Innovative Practices in Health" that started Monday took up the issue of cheaper medicines. The workshop is being organised by Chhattisgarh Academy of Administration (CAA) in collaboration with Centre for innovations in Public Systems (CIPS), Hyderabad.
"If rice could be provided to people at a nominal price of Rs 1 and Rs 2, why medicines could not be sold at much cheaper price" Additional Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh and CAA Director General D S Misra said at the inaugural address; throwing the issue for a discussion in the workshop.
To be mentioned here, the West Bengal government had earlier launched the fair price medical shops in the government hospitals to supply generic medicines to the people.
The generic medicines are much cheaper that the branded ones and have come as a big respite for the common man.
Misra said the concept of fair price medical shops would be a big innovation in the health sector. "Like the food security, the health security for all should also be introduced that would be another innovation," he said, adding that Chhattisgarh government had taken up many measures including "Mitanin (woman rural health worker)" that had become a model in the country.
The issue of fair price medical shops would come up for discussion on the third day of the workshop during the session for generic drugs.
The former secretary with the ministry of health and CIPS honourary advisor, Sujatha Rao stressed on the need of building a better system for implementing the innovations coming up in the health sector. "It is normally observed that lack of such system prevent the desiring people to avail the benefits of better medical facility," she added.
Dr Yogesh Jain of Bilaspur-based Jan Swasthya Sahyog spoke on the community participation in the health sector that had brought many innovations.
He said the communication technology including e-mails and mobile phones should be used improving medical system at the rural level.
