The Jan Aushadhi store on the premises of Jeypore Hospital has come a cropper. With many doctors yet to prescribe these medicines, the store is recording dismal sales figures.
Even as the Medical Council of India has directed the doctors to prescribe generic medicines to patients, the Jan Aushadhi store does not have enough medicines to meet the demand. The store was set up six months back under Centre-sponsored Jan Aushadhi scheme to sell quality generic medicines manufactured by PSUs at a price as low as one-tenth of the existing market rate. It is an initiative by the Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilisers aimed at popularising generic medicines.
Sources said very often people can be seen returning empty handed from the store without getting the required medicines. Interestingly, after the store was set up, the medical stores in the vicinity had started offering discounts to patients on medicines. However, as days passed, stocks at the store started reducing and even the Health Department stopped supplying generic medicines.
“I am a heart patient and every time I visit the Jan Aushadhi store, they tell me that generic medicines are not available,” said Guru Gadava of Kundra area. Staff at the store said though they have been sending a list of medicines to the Health Department, they do not get the supply.