Drugs So Cheap, You’ll Freak! Medicine Half Price at ‘Jana Sanjivini’
Drugs so Cheap, You’ll Freak! Buy Generic Medicine at 50% Off MRP at ‘Jana Sanjivini’ Drug Stores now launched at Govt. Wenlock Hospital, and Lady Goschen Hospital. Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Why shell out more money at other drug stores when you can buy generic medicines at 50% discount and branded medicines at 10% at the two newly launched “Jana Sanjivini” Drug Stores of Karnataka State Government. Both the outlets have begun functioning few days, although the formal inauguration of both the stores is planned for 23 September 2016, where Ramesh Kumar-minister for Health and Family Welfare, along with other ministers and politicians will do the honors. One drug store is located next to the casualty block of Government Wenlock Hospital, and the other is located at the entrance of Lady Goschen Hospital.
The benefit of patronizing ‘Jana Sanjivini’ is that you can avail generic drugs which are being sold at a discount of 50 per cent on MRP, while branded drugs are being offered at a discount of 10 per cent. Earlier, The State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HLL Lifecare Ltd., a government enterprise, for running the ‘Jana Sanjivini’ drug stores. HLL Lifcare were also asked to provide surgical implants at discounted rates for patients.
The foundation stone for the drug store at Govt. Wenlock Hospital was laid by Oscar Fernandes, former MP, on March 7, 2015, and during that time they also planned to open another store at Lady Goschen Hospital, a maternity hospital. Opening of these “Jana Sanjivini” drug stores was the initiative of UT Khader, when he was the State Health and Family Welfare minister. Opening of both these stores were delayed by months since there were objections by the Mangaluru City Corporation over the absence of a setback, and HLL delayed in setting it right. Apart from that it also took time to obtain a licence for selling drugs.
One of the lady pharmacist at the Lady Goschen ‘Jana Sanjivini’ drug store speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” As of now, we are selling only generic and branded drugs. Right now we have a limited supply of surgical implants, but within a few days we will be getting the full stock, even more stock of medicines. We have already seen customers coming to the store, although there has been not much publicity. People who have been familiar with branded drugs are bit reluctant to buy generic. There is lack of knowledge about generic drugs. There is also a complex about purchasing these drugs sold at lower rates. We have been answering lot of questions about generic drugs posed at us by clients and we have selling them at subsidized rates,” .
She further added saying, ” For example, a branded drug for constipation which is normally sold at Rs. 105, you can buy the generic drug for Rs. 39. A strip of branded “Becosules” 20 capsules of B-Complex, which has a MRP of Rs. 25, where as the same capsules with the generic name ‘B-complex’ is available at Rs.15 a strip for 20 capsules. Patients are getting used to these generic drugs, and there has been a huge demand for generic drugs from patients with diabetes and blood pressure. We are hoping the news will spread soon about our stores, and common people who can’t afford paying big bucks at other ‘Big’ pharmacies can avail their medicines here at a very cheaper rate”.
