State Health Minister Banna Gupta on Monday inaugurated Jan Aushadhi Kendra on Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) premises. After the inauguration of the medical centre, patients will get generic medicines at affordable/low prices.
Gupta said, “As the shop will function round the clock all seven days, patients admitted at RIMS in emergency situations will not have to move here and there for getting medicines especially during nights.” The health minister claimed that presently, 250 medicines are available at the centre, but in coming days around 750 types of medicines will be available at the centre.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)' is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in association with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through dedicated outlets called 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra. Through these outlets generic medicines are provided to people at low price. The effect of generic medicines is same as those available at market; however, generic medicines are priced at a low rate.
On the occasion, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and RIMS director Dr Kameshwar Prasad besides other officials of RIMS were present on the occasion.
Vindhya Medical through a tender process has been given the responsibility to operate the outlet. According to the operator, medicines will be cheaper in the Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Patients will get medicines at seven per cent less than the print rate. This will act as a relief for the patients coming for treatment in RIMS. Because the pockets of patients become loose in the affair of branded medicines. At the same time, many people have to mortgage the land to get treatment. Patients will get 24-hour service from this shop located near the emergency gate, so that patients can easily get medicines late at night.
The July last year the RIMS administration decided to shut down the generic drug store “Dawai Dost”, which used to provide medicines at subsidized rates. The move comes in the wake of a 2015 decision made by the governing body of RIMS that decided that the hospital would invite an open tender after the settlement with Dawai Dost was concluded. However, since no tender was invited on and after 2015 Jharkhand High Court Summoned the RIMS administration on this issue, it directed the closure of the store within a month.
In August the Jharkhand High Court pulled up the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for not being able to start its own centre for generic medicines. A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad while hearing a PIL on the lack of infrastructure in the autonomous hospital observed that Rims should be self-sufficient.