Maharashtra: 350 fair price medicine shops in the offing

The Maharashtra Government in an attempt to provide generic medicines to the common man, has decided to open 350 fair price stores all over the state

Announcing this, the State Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Minister, Girish Bapat said that he had spent 20 lakh from his MLA fund recently to open a generic medicine fair price shop, at Sasson Hospital in Pune. “We are also approaching NGOs, Lions and Rotary clubs to extend their services so that the poor can afford to buy medicines," Bapat added. He also sent out an appeal to doctors to prescribe generic drugs to the common man.

“Health is important and people cannot afford to buy costly medicines; so, we have to promote and encourage generic medicines.” He stated.

Mr. Bapat also announced the state government's decision to open medicine stores in every taluka and main place reports dna.

The minister appealed to the Transport Minister, Mr. Diwakar Raote to allot space in state transport depots to open generic medicine stores.

Highlighting the significance of generic medicine stores Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt said the paucity of such outlets was depriving the common man of reasonably priced medicines.

Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt said that the price of several medicines was beyond the reach of common man, due to which the central government was initiating the Generic Medicines Scheme. "Due to paucity of such stores in our state, the common man is being deprived of such reasonably priced medicines. Hence, there is a need for the state government to accord priority to opening of such stores all over Maharashtra," he said. Dutt also urged the government to involve legislators in the promotion of the same. "The government should have a dialogue with Indian Medical Association and appeal to doctors to prescribe generic medicines," Dutt added.