VIJAYAWADA: The State government is aiming to reduce the financial burden on the poor by increasing access to generic medicines and promoting their usage, said Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav.
Accusing the previous YSRC government of neglecting generic medicines, the minister revealed that, of the total sale of medicines worth Rs 10,000 crore in the State, generic medicines account for only 7%.
Replying to questions raised by the MLAs, Minister Satya Kumar informed the House that there are only 215 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the State, while the Union government has established 13,822 Kendras across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra scheme.
He stated that there are only 325 generic medical shops in the State, including 215 PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, 73 Anna Sanjivini stores, and 37 others. Additionally, 34,761 medical shops in the State sell generic medicines alongside branded ones. He attributed the limited public awareness of generic medicines to the fact that private doctors rarely prescribe them.
To address this, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has initiated measures to encourage young entrepreneurs to establish Jan Aushadhi Kendras as part of an employment generation programme. The State government is also simplifying the licensing process by issuing licences for generic medical shops within 15 days and ensuring the supply of 560 types of medicines across the State.
Furthermore, the minister outlined plans to establish generic medical stores at all Community Health Centres (CHCs), Area Hospitals, District Hospitals, and 17 teaching hospitals. Awareness programmes supported by Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) will also bolster government efforts to promote the use of generic medicines. He emphasised that government doctors primarily prescribe generic medicines, with branded ones reserved for emergencies.