Generic drug stores in hospitals

In an effort to lower the burden of spending on health services, the Department of Medical Education is planning to open generic drug selling outlets in all hospitals under its jurisdiction in collaboration with the Karnataka State Co-operative Consumer Federation Ltd.

Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas said under the plan generic drugs would be sold through Janatha Bazar Generic Drug Stores at cheaper prices.

CM D V Sadnanda Gowda would inaugurate the first Janatha Bazar-run drug store at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore on Thursday.

Ramdas said delivery of generic drugs at cheaper prices would be a “boon to the poor patients and the general public”.

He said the generic drug stores would be opened at 20 government medical hospitals, and later they would be started in all government-run hospitals. “The stores will sell both generic and branded medicines authorised by the FDA, surgical equipment and orthopaedic implants at 50 per cent of MRP,” he said.

The government will make it mandatory for all government doctors to prescribe only generic drugs.

Holistic treatment system

Ramdas said the state was planning to introduce an integrated holistic medical treatment system in all medical college hospitals, and had constituted a committee headed by Dr Nagarathna to come out with suggestions within 15 days.