Chandigarh:4 January Aushadi Shops Told Not To Sell Non-Generic Medicines

After finding that some of the Jan Aushadi drug stores are selling non-generic medicines, the UT health department has issued notice to all the four Jan Aushadi shops in the city not to sell other medicines which are not on the PM’s mandate (as provided in these Jan Aushadi).

“The licence has been issued for selling generic medicines only and those who use the same permit for selling medicines other than the generic ones will not be allowed to function. We have issued notices to all the Jan Aushadi stores in the city,” said Dr G Dewan, director, health services, UT.

These drug stores have been opened as a part of the Jan Aushadhi campaign initiated by the Government of India for making quality medicines available to all at affordable prices. The Jan Aushadhi project is an initiative of the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, Government of India, and is being coordinated by the bureau of pharma public sector undertakings of India which would be the main suppliers of the medicines under this project.

Jan Aushadi supply generic medicines that reduces the cost to more than 75% of the branded one.

“We do not find most of the medicines in the store as prescribed by the doctors. All the doctors in the government hospitals have been asked to write generic medicines only, but this is seldom followed,” said Kavya Prakash, a resident of Sector 28. This is not the first time that the health department has found such violations. In 2015, officials at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, had conducted a surprise check where the store was found selling branded medicines.

The UT administration has waived the rent, power and water bills of the store since it provides cheaper medicines to patients. These shops have been running in PGI, GMCH 32 and GMSH-16.-Times Of India