AGARTALA, February 23 (TIWN): Though the Generic medicine counters are already opened in the State run G.B Hospital, IGM Hospital and Tripura Medical College, but the non availability of these medicines become a night mare for the common people. On the other hand, Government had directed the physicians to suggest generic medicines.

But, a section of Doctors alleged that though they are directed to suggest generic medicines only, but due to its non availability, patients returned back again and asked for substitute. On the other part, common people have to suffer to purchase medicines from local chemist shops outside the hospitals. That’s why, a vast number of needy people have been affected by the high price of ‘branded’ medicines.

However, Government had recently announced to open Generic medicine centers at District and sub-divisional level, but the proper time allotted for this is still under deep suspense. Though the Government had decided that in the recent time, in the first phase, the generic medicines will be introduced at GBP Hospital on experimental basis and it may be extended to elsewhere on the basis of outcome of the first move. As per the plan, the Society will set up two or three medicine shops to distribute generic medicines nearby GBP Hospital so that people could buy medicine easily.

“While BPL (below poverty line) families will get medicines free of cost, the APL (above poverty line) families will have to buy the medicines from open market. People would be beneficial as the price of generic medicines is less in comparison to the non-generic medicine or branded medicines.

To ensure the availability of quality medicines at affordable prices to all, the Dept of Pharmaceutical, Union Ministry of Chemical & Fertilizers, decided to lunch in 2008 a nation­wide campaign viz ‘Jan Aushadhi’ as a direct market intervention strategy. On behalf of the Dept of Pharmaceuticals, an independent society named the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) implementing the ‘Jan Aushadhi’ scheme since December, 2008. It is also to be mentioned that the first Generic Medicine Counter was started at the AGMC & GBP Hospital and it was the first generic store among all north­eastern states.