Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Mar 14: District in-charge minister, Pramod Madhwaraj, inaugurated the generic medical store opened at the district hospital here under the Jana Sanjivini scheme of the state government, being operated by Hindustan Lever Ltd, on Monday March 13. Speaking on the occasion, he asked the people to avail of the opportunity provided by the government to sell medicines at rates that are far lower than the prevailing market prices of the medicines. He explained that the main aim of the government in taking this initiative is to provide medicines at cheap rates to poor people.
"There is no need to worry about the quality of medicines being dispensed by this facility just because they are priced low. Only high quality medicines will be sold through this store. I request you not to lend an ear to rumours on this aspect. All kinds of medicines will be available to people for widespread ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, etc at rates that are 90 percent cheaper in some cases. This is a scheme meant to provide people healthcare are affordable rates and no one should indulge in malicious propaganda about the scheme," he requested.
"The generic medical store works for 13 hours everyday, from 8 am to 9 pm. In course of time, the store will run round the clock. Even when some medicines are currently not available, the store will indent the medicines and provide them to the needy on demand everyday," said Mani Mittal, representative of Hindustan Lever Ltd. Quoting prices of some of the medicines, he pointed out that the people get medicines at 10 to 20 percent of the market prices, and surgical equipment will be provided at 25 percent concession.
Madhwaraj said that 25 acres out of 150 acres of land on which Brahmavar Sugar Company stands has been earmarked for opening of a medical college. "The chief minister has said that funds will be provided for medical colleges already announced earlier during this year's budget. Therefore, it is hoped that medical college will be sanctioned in the next budget. A GTDC hospital is being built at Uppur at a cost of Rs 40 crore shortly," he stated.
City municipal president, Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje, presided. District surgeon, Dr Madhusudan Nayak, welcomed. District health officer, Dr Rohini, proposed vote of thanks.