Bengaluru: Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar said 146 taluk hospitals in the state will get generic medicine stores by November this year. Generic medicines cost 60-80% less than branded medicines at the same quality.
three agencies - Mysore Sales International Ltd, Karnataka State Drugs Logistics and Warehousing Society and the Red Cross - have been roped in to set up generic medicine stores in taluk hospitals. Doctors on the government’s payroll have signed a self-declaration that they will not prescribe branded medicines to patients.
"The only impediment in setting up generic medicine stores is the shortage of pharmacists. We are offering pharmacists an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to run the stores and I hope enough people come forward," he said.
The government’s August 15 deadline to launch free dialysis services in taluk hospitals has been postponed, Kumar informed. "On October 2, free dialysis service will start in 65 taluk hospitals and the rest by November."
