The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP)'s attempt to start 600 retail outlets of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Scheme (PMJAS) in Kerala is unlikely to succeed as the state government, instead of promoting the central scheme, plans to introduce a new scheme ‘Kerala Generics’ in its place to sell generic drugs.  The new scheme will be launched next month in five Karunya Community Pharmacies (KCP) operated under the control of Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL).
 
Karunya Pharmacies were launched by KMSCL on January 12, 2012 to sell branded  versions of all medicines on reasonable prices. The retail outlets are operated in the premises of medical colleges and general hospitals. Currently, 54 KCP stores are operating in all the 14 districts of the state.

Sources in the KMSCL said that initially, the sale of generic drugs will be restricted to five KCPs working at medical colleges and district hospitals as a pilot project.  In another three months, all the 54 Karunya Pharmacies of KMSCL will have separate counters for generic versions.

Sources close to central government said the attempt of Kerala government to start Kerala Generic stores is an obvious attempt to block the upcoming ubiquitous presence of Jan Aushadhi stores in the state, the direct market intervention scheme for supply of generic medicines on reasonable rates to the public. The state government introduces the generic plan at a time when the officials assigned by DoP for Kerala have engaged in strenuous work to start 600 Jan Aushadhi stores with presence in all the districts. Presently, the state has 130 JAS outlets, and 30 more will be opened in the month of January 2017. Approval for further 140 was already given and the foundation work for inaugurating the stores is progressing, said S. Chandrasekharan Pillai, coordinator of the JAS Scheme in Kerala.

Trades who have started work for JAS have responded that the CPM-led LDF government in Kerala is not interested to support and promote the PM JAS introduced by the BJP-led government at the centre. They have pointed out that KCP stores were started by government for the purpose of selling branded drugs on discounted rates. Generic versions are not supposed to sell through branded stores. The government’s plan to run parallel generic stores is a blatant attempt to block the growth of Jan Aushadhi scheme in Kerala, they added.

When contacted, KMSCL general manager SR Dileep said, “The state government has decided to sell generic drugs through KCPs because the central government has amended rules in Indian Medical Council Regulations 2002 directing physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names in legible and capital letters. This has to be followed by all doctors in the country. So people will naturally go for generic versions. When patients come to the Karunya pharmacies with the prescriptions, they should not be sent back without satisfying their needs. So, gradually we are starting to sell generics in the same outlets, and later on separate counters will be opened”.

The GM said the Corporation does not fear any kind of threat from JAS outlets. A senior officer in the medical corporation said KCPs will sell generic drugs at a price less than what is charged by JAS stores.

Meanwhile, the medical corporation has sacked 10 pharmacists working in various KCPs citing reasons that their performances were not upto the mark. Dr. Dileep said the Corporation has assessed their performance and dismissed them on the advice of the assessment committee. The pharmacists were working on contract.