Now government hospitals in Maharashtra to use generic drugs

It seems the state government has finally woken up to the possibility of subsidised healthcare. According to the recent Supreme Court ruling, the state government has decided to use Generic drugs for all medicine supplies to public hospitals. Public health minister, Suresh Shetty said that the government would formulate a module to spread mass awarenss regarding generic drugs and their benefits.

This novel idea was implemented by a non-governmental organization headed by lawyer Anil Kilor. He had the novel initiative of making generic drugs available to the common man. The NGO subsequently opened two generic medicine stores at Zenda Square (Dharampeth) and Yadav Nagar. The store has unique features like home delivery of medicines as well as a doctor present, who provides medical care to the underprivileged.

Shetty said that this initiative was also to provide treatment for cancers at a subsidised rate. He said that he was hopeful of setting up a day care chemotherapy centre in the remote parts of India. A pilot project for one such centre is underway at Amravati. Shetty reassured the media, that many more such centres would be started soon. According to the Public health minister, he plans to start the first 7 such centre in Vidharba district.

On being asked about the increase in premium to avail of these services, Shetty said that the ambitious Rajeev Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojna (RGJY) will soon be launched but at no extra premium. In response Subhash Chavan (congress) raised the issue regarding the delay in implementing generic stores in Maharastra. He said that other states had set up generic stores almost 4 years ago, while Maharastra is yet to implement it. In response Fauzia Khan (minister of state for health) said that the health department has started purchasing generic drugs for all civic hospitals. She also said that the proposal for such drugs to be used was still to be approved by the state government. She said that the proposal was pending with the centre for funding aid of Rs 57.80 lakh available under a centre scheme in this regard. While the proposals are pending with the centre for funding, Khan cited this as a reason for not pushing these aggressively.

Other ministers argued that the speed with which the other states had managed to implement this system should be used as a benchmark. He also demanded the setting up of a day care chemotherapy centre.