In a move to ensure all essential drugs including critical cancer drugs available to the common man at reasonable prices, the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) plans to implement two schemes, ‘Jeevandhaara’ and Aasha Jyothy’, already launched by Andhra Pradesh Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation.

The managing director of KMSC, Biju Prabhakar, had a detailed discussion in this regard with the MD of Jeevandhaara Project, J Syamala Rao and the general manager, Revi Uday Bhaskar in last week in Hyderabad. According to sources from Hyderabad, Kerala government will first implement the schemes in selected districts and gradually replicate it to all over the state.

As per the schemes, the people will get all generic drugs from the government sponsored Jeevandhaara and Aasha Jyothy pharmacies on 40-90 per cent discounts. The medicines available in these stores are manufactured and supplied by major pharmaceutical companies like Ranbaxy, Cipla, Wockhardt. etc.

According to Revi Uday Bhaskar, there is huge difference between the dealer price and the MRP for all the drugs sold through Jeevandhaara pharmacies. One strip of cetrizine (10 tablets), whose MRP fixed is Rs.32, but is sold for Rs.3 from Jeevandhaara store. The consumer gets a discount of 90 per cent.

The MRP of one strip of fluconazole is Rs.37. It is available for Rs.3 at the government pharmacy with a discount of 32 per cent. Ten tablets’ strip of ofloxacin is sold for Rs.12 with a discount of 86 per cent from the MRP of Rs.85.

Anti-hypertension drug, amlodipine-5mg can be had from Jeevandhaara store for Rs.4 for a strip with huge discount of its MRP which is Rs.27.50. The consumer is availing a discount of 85 per cent.

The anti-ulcer drug, pantoprazol, whose MRP for one strip is Rs.60, but sold for Rs.11, on a discount of 82 per cent. ciprofloxacin 500 mg is available for Rs.22, whose MRP fixed is Rs.86. The discount is 70 per cent.

The GM said a total of 30 pharmacies are working in Andhra Pradesh covering 13 districts. The government has issued an order recently to replicate the scheme in other districts soon. The scheme is implemented by associating with Rotary Club, Lions Club, Senior Citizens Council, Self Help Group, Rotary Club and HLL Healthcare Ltd.

According to Revi Uday Bhaskar, Jeevandhaara pharmacies could achieve a profit margin of Rs.13 lakhs within six months of implementing the scheme.