Muktsar aushadhi kendra boon for poor patients

Sells medicines worth Rs 5.5 lakh in February

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 8

The Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the Muktsar Civil Hospital is proving to be a boon for poor people.

The centre, being run by the District Red Cross Society, sold medicines worth Rs 5.5 lakh in February.

Notably, the central government under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana provides medicines at affordable prices at such centres.

Calling it a blessing for the poor, Gagan Kumar, a resident, said, “I used to buy medicines from chemists outside which cost me Rs 200, but here I have paid just Rs 45 for the same. Further, these are made by renowned companies. I appeal to everyone to come to the centre to buy medicines.”

On this, Dr Sunil Bansal, Deputy Medical Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “The Jan Aushadhi Kendra is helping needy people. We are now celebrating Jan Aushadhi Week to spread awareness about generic medicines among people.”

Some patients, however, complained that doctors were still prescribing medicines with their brand name, rather than writing the name of the salt.

The staff of the kendra said the sale had doubled from last year. “In February last year, we sold medicines of Rs 2.84 lakh. But this February, we did a business of Rs 5.5 lakh. It happened due to the support of doctors and the district administration. Though the state government also provides free medicines to patients, its dispensaries do not cover all medicines.”