RANCHI: Jharkhand government’s department of health, medical education and family welfare is aiming to set up generic drug stores across all panchayats of the state to make sure that the rural populace can buy medicines at an affordable price.
Under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, these drug stores will be able to sell generic drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol, chloroquine salts, oral rehydration salts and other basic medical objects. These far-flung drug stores will be exempted from having pharmacists and will be provided restricted licenses. There are over 4,800 panchayats across the state.
“These drug stores will remain in contact with the doctors of the local primary health centre or community health centre and will procure their services for attending to the rural patients,” the department’s resolution, undersigned by health secretary Arun Kumar Singh, read.
The panchayat-level drug stores will be able to procure life-saving drugs from their counterparts with pharmacists based on prescription issued in the name of patients, the resolution added. Block development officers have been authorized to invite applications from interested parties for opening up the shops. Panchayats having a population of 5,000 and above can have two drug stores. Those interested in opening the stores will need an intermediate degree at the least. Applicants, who are natives of the panchayat and have shops of their own, will be given priority. “Work is already underway to commission these drug stores in the next fiscal year. The drug stores will also double up as telemedicine centres for the rural people by linking up with the govt’s 104 helpline,” an official said.
