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Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 5
All four Jan Aushadhi stores at the city hospitals have not served the purpose for which these were set up. Shortage of medicines and lack of faith and awareness about generic medicines among people are blamed for these stores getting a poor response.
A visit to these stores at the PGI, the GMCH-32 and the GMSH-16 showed that very few people opted to buy medicines from there. The PGI has two Jan Aushadhi stores. The one at the OPD though had some customers, the one in the Gol market had more sellers than buyers. Footfall at the stores at the other two government hospitals was also found to be thin.
On the contrary, private medical stores adjoining Jan Aushadhi centres were overcrowded.
Most patients Chandigarh Tribune spoke to at Jan Aushadhi stores reasoned that prescribed medicines were unavailable there. The government initiative aims at providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices.
“There is a poor response to these stores as there is no supply of most of the medicines. Out of ten medicines, a person gets about two. We have complained several times, but things remain the same,” rued Beant Kamboj, an executive member of a PGI Employees Union.
A patient said, “Doctors mention the brand name of the medicine on our registration cards. We are often confused whether the one we buy from Jan Aushadhi is right or not, as people say there is a quality issue in the salts of generic medicines. We also do not know whether the doctor will approve of the medicines we buy from Jan Aushadhi outlets. When it comes to health, nobody wants to take chances.”
Dr Uttam Thakur, president, Association of Resident Doctors, PGI, said, “There is a difference between the quality and outcome of branded and generic medicines. Usually, we prescribe generic medicines. Depending on patient’s condition, we do prescribe branded drugs, especially when antibiotic has to be taken.”
Sachin Kumar Singh, CEO, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), the agency that implements Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), said, “The supply shortage issue could be with franchise-run outlets. All get supply from a same place, but it depends how a franchisee runs the store. Our company-owned store at the PGI OPD had the highest sale in the whole country. The store reported a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore last financial year. Unlike private players, we have to follow the whole process of tendering and bidding, which takes about six months before we finally get our order.” He claimed that the quality of branded and generic medicines was same. “We convince doctors to prescribe generic medicines, at least for the poor. We have 50,300 stores in India and recorded a turnover of Rs 315 crore in 2018-19,” the CEO added.
Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, said, “Circulars have been issued to all health facilities to prescribe medicines from the hospital essential drugs list.
Fix price range of medicines: City IMA chief
Dr Rajesh Dhir, president of the Chandigarh chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), has suggested measures to improve the situation. He says the government has to be aggressive in promoting the Jan Aushadhi stores. It has to fix the price range for medicines of different brands. Though people are gradually going for generic medicines, the psyche of buying a branded produce is still there. So promotional campaigns have to be held. Focus should be on fixing price range rather than prescription.
Residents speak
The government should start an extensive campaign to make people aware of these stores and medicines. A body should be set up to clear the air on the quality of medicines available there.
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