Aiming to provide medicines to common men on subsidized rates and lower than the present government-sponsored agencies, the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) is planning to launch a chain of retail pharmacy stores in all the medical colleges and district hospitals in the state soon.

For this, the corporation has entered into a tie up with Hindustan Lifecare Limited (HLL) to establish the outlets and appoint staff, said Biju Prabhakar, managing director of KMSC Ltd.

He said the patients will get the medicines on 50-60 per cent discount as the Corporation does not desire to make any profit out of this business. It will be a no-profit-no-loss initiative. In the beginning, the Corporation’s chain stores will be established in the medical colleges, district hospitals and general hospitals. Gradually KMSC will step up the operation and will penetrate into the PHCs.

According to him, the Corporation will act as a drug procuring agency and HLL will run the stores as per the norms of the Corporation. The place, building, infrastructure facilities and the staff including pharmacists will be set up by the HLL. KMSC is looking at setting up 30 retail shops within two months.

While speaking to Pharmabiz, Biju Prabhakar said drugs for cancer and urology related diseases are in the priority category. However, all other drugs will also be available in these stores. Other than drugs, stents, surgical disposable devices and plastic items will  be available on subsidized rates through these stores.

When asked how the stores will be able to sell the drugs on huge discounts, the MD said the retailer’s and wholesaler’s profits will be reduced in the prices of the products. Besides, the corporation will procure drugs in huge quantities on a long term contracts, so that the manufacturing companies will offer a big amount as discount. This will be benefited to the patients.

Currently, Neethi Medical Stores under ConsumerFed and Maveli Medical Stores under SupplyCo are the government sponsored agencies selling medicines to the public at lesser rates. The operation of these chain stores will be transparent and there will not be any involvement of intermediaries, he said.