The chain of Jeevandhara Sanjeevani Pharmacy generic drug stores launched with the support of the state government are yet to spread to all over the state. Yet, these generic stores have helped to save up to Rs.2 crore to the patients in the state so far.

The Jeevandhara generic outlets have turned out to be a big hit among the poor patients and have been doing good business. Started with sales of just Rs.2000 per day in 2010, today the outlets are having a sale of Rs.25,000 to Rs.28,000 every day. All the 330 categories generic drugs are offered at about 40-90 per cent discounted rates on the MRP to the patients.

In just a span of one year, from 2010 to 2011, even while the generic drug stores were in pilot stage, the outlets have recorded a total sale of Rs.1.3 crore, which would otherwise have cost Rs.3 crore to the patients if the same were purchased from the private pharmacies.

At present only two generic pharmacy stores are fully operational in the state, one each at Osmania General Hospital and Gandhi Medical Hospitals in Hyderabad. The outlet at Gandhi Hospital is run by the Red Cross Society of India and the outlet at Osmania General Hospital is run by the Senior citizens forum. Two more generic drug stores are operating on a pilot basis in Nellore and Srikakulam districts in the state.

Very soon the Red Cross Society of India is planning to open another outlet at Nilopher children’s hospital in the city. In the second phase, the government in coordination with the Red Cross Society is planning to open more generic outlet in all government hospitals in each district.

“As the things are still at the planning stage, it may take another one year to fully realize it, at present we are in the process and talking to all the district collectors for availing the permission for premises to set up the outlets at government hospitals,” Informed Jeevandhara project in charge at the Red Cross Society, in Hyderabad.

As per the MoU signed between Andhra Pradesh State Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation (APSMIDC) and by the Red Cross Society of India, the APSMIDC will provide space for installing generic outlet free of cost and facilitate the procurement of listed generic drugs to the Red Cross society, while the Red Cross Society will procure the listed generic drug and run the generic store by appointing a qualified and registered pharmacists.