‘Generic medicines can do wonders in State’

Health experts, department officials, students and eminent persons associated with the campaign to spread awareness on use of generic medicines today called for greater awareness and need of social acceptance for generic medicines as they could reach the unreachable living in far off areas of the State. They felt that opening of generic medicine centers was not only a good entrepreneurship option but was a social cause too.

In a bid to spread awareness on Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJAP), the PHD Chamber of Commerce in Association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India organised a day-long workshop here on Friday attended by eminent personalities of the State and outside.

Addressing the inaugural session, Joint Secretary, Health, Chandra K Oreon said that the Generic medicine centres can do wonders in a State like Jharkhand, especially in rural areas where people are devoid of low-cost proper medication. Citing examples from his life he said that there was need of greater awareness on the scheme so that more and more centres could be opened and people get benefits from them. He, on the occasion, assured full support of the State government in the central scheme.

Joint Director, Drug Control Directorate, Ranchi Surender Prasad said that the quality of the generic medicines is found to be good with 99 per cent of the samples taken here passing the quality test. “The State government has recently decided to open generic medicine centres in all medical colleges. We have about 20-25 stores in the State right now and I assure you to give priority to those applying for licenses for opening generic medicine stores,” he said.

Speaking in details about the scheme Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) Dheeraj Sharma said that still 60 per cent of the country’s population doesn’t get proper medicines. “We have a Rs 1 lakh crore market of medicines in the country with a potential of Rs 2.5 lakh crore. This means we still have need of medicines worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore that are not available to the people. We are such a huge manufacturer today that every 7th pill in the world is made in the country. Still, we do not have enough generic medicine stores, which need to be set up at every nook and corner of the country,” he said.

Sharma stressed on the need of intensive awareness campaigns for Jan Aushadhi Centres. He appealed to everyone to educate at least five people about PMBJAP and encourage people to take up the social cause.

Principal Director, PHD Chamber, Vivek Seigell, lauded the scheme and said that the Government has taken a huge step by launching the PMBBJAP where quality medicines are made available to the needy at affordable prices. “Presently there are around 3000 stores in the country, which will go upto 30,000 soon. And, we also have a very strong drug control mechanism in the State. So doctors and patients also need to be made aware of the PMBJAP. We are attached with the programme since the beginning and appealing to people including MRs to open more generic stores,” he said.

“According to renowned institutions of the world a nation needs to spend at least 3 per cent of its GDP for Health sector but in our country it’s even less than one per cent. I appeal to the government to make it at least 2 per cent,” Seigelle added.

Earlier in his welcome address Chairman, PHD Chamber, Jharkhand, Pawan Bajaj said that a person faces the worst time in his life when a family member of his/her falls ill. “The situation becomes grim if the person is from weak economic background. And, the pathetic condition of Government health institutions is an open secret. Generic medicines then come as a huge relief to the needy. Because there is a vast gap between branded and generic medicine price,” he said.

“We are fortunate to have such a good scheme launched by the Centre and take maximum benefits from it. I will suggest submitting a representation to the PM to launch Jan Jaanch Kendras in the lines of the Jan Aushadhi Kendras,” said the Chairman.

The workshop was attended by Co-Chairman, PHD Chamber, Jharkhand Vishnu Rajgadia; Principal, Ranchi Pharmacy College, Deepak Kumar, Government officials, doctors, pharmacy students, pharmacists and many others.