Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hindustan Lifecare Limited (HLL) to set up a chain of generic drug stores namely Janasanjeevini. This will enable people across economic strata to buy medicines at reduced prices. It has also planned diagnostic centres across the state along with HLL to provide tests at reasonable costs.

Efforts to devise a software with which the generic name of a drug is displayed even if the brand name is entered are underway. It is also working to display the addresses of generic drug stores displayed in front of hospitals and clinics in the state for easy access.

The first of these outlets will be commissioned at the KC General Hospital in Bengaluru this June. It is currently working out the modalities for making it operational on a 24-hours basis.

“We will open Janasanjeevini across the hospitals in 176 taluks and 30 district headquarters where people from all economic strata can avail medicines at reasonable prices”, said Karnataka health and family welfare minister UT Khader.

Inaugurating the first-of-its kind store under aegis of the state health department, minister Khader said that it would team up with HLL for setting up diagnostic centres across the State and the services will be provided at nominal fees.

 All patients from the lower economic classes could avail of medicines at around 60 to 80 per cent discount from these stores. As many as 1,000 generic drugs will be made available at these stores.

In 2012, the state government had teamed up with State Cooperative Consumer Federation to set up 20 Janatha Bazar generic drug stores to make available affordable drugs to the poor patients in the state. Four pharma companies Cipla, Torrent, Sun Pharma and Intas consented to supply generic medicines at subsidized costs to these stores.

“The government had in the past embarked on such an initiative, but this new model has been designed keeping in mind the shortcomings of the previous model,” he said.

In case patients are uncertain about the quality of drugs, they could get the same tested at any of the three drug test labs at Bengaluru, Hubli and Bellary through the state drugs control department. “Only drugs manufactured by well known multinational companies would be sold here along with other leading Indian pharma enterprises to ensure quality standards of the medicines,” he said.