Bangalore: Now medicines to cost less. The initiative taken by the State Health and Family Welfare Department as part of the Union Government’s policy to encourage generic medicines, which will be 40-50% cheaper than branded drugs. This step is aimed at making healthcare affordable, especially for those from the lower socio-economic strata.
If all goes according to plan, the state of Karnataka may establish 176 generic drug stores across district and taluk headquarters within two months. The process of planning and designing is currently underway.
This decision was announced in the recent modified budget. Dr B.N. Dhanyakumar, Director, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department said “We are in the process of planning and designing the outlets. It would be a public-private partnership.” The Department has planned to set up 176 generic drug stores, one each in district and taluk headquarter respectively.