Udupi: The state government is committed to provide medicines at rates that are much lower than the prevailing market prices under its Jana Sanjivini Scheme, said Pramod Madhwaraj, State Minister of Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment.
He was addressing the gathering after the inaugurating a generic medical store at Udupi District Hospital at Ajjarkad here. He said that the main aim of the government in taking this initiative was to provide medicines at cheaper rates to the poor. He said that high quality medicines would be sold through this store and people may lay aside their misapprehensions about the quality of the medicines just because they were priced low.
All kinds of medicines will be available to the people for widespread ailments like blood pressure, diabetic and others at rates that are 90 percent cheaper in some cases. Sanjivini scheme will be made available to all economically backward people at affordable rates, he said.
“The complete details of the patients are documented online under e-hospital. Aadhaar number or mobile number provided to the hospital by the patient would be used to store the data of the patient including his medical history which help the patient or doctor to access his file containing information on his health, treatment provided and other details at any government hospital located in the district. A sum of Rs 20 Lakh has been released towards the purchase of medicines at the district hospital. The generic drug stores have been opened at 39 places in Karnataka and are maintained by HLL Life Care Limited,” he said.
The medical stores initially will work for 13 hours a day from 8 am to 9 pm. Later, in due course, the time will be extended to round the clock, Madhwaraj informed. Mani Mittal, representative of Hindustan Lever Ltd who is providing medicines at cheaper rates, said that the prices of the some of the medicines would be 10 to 20 percent of the market prices and surgical equipment would be made available at 25 percent reduction.
Pramod Madhwaraj said that he had submitted a proposal to the government to set up a medical college in Udupi. The government would start the already announced medical colleges, he added. “I have put tremendous pressure on the chief minister to set up a government medical college in Udupi after submitting the proposal. About 25 acres of land belonging to Brahmavar Sugar Factory can be used for the purpose and I am hopeful that Udupi district will get a medical college soon. About 20 acres of land will be required for setting up the college,” he said.
He also said that the present Udupi Government hospital had been upgraded to district hospital. Hence the sanctioned strength of staff also increased. When it was a taluk hospital, the sanctioned strength of staff was 123 and now it has been increased to 195. Similarly, a total of 27 doctors have been sanctioned and 26 are functioning. The number of nurses in the hospital has been increased to 50 from 16. Earlier, it was a 124 bed hospital and after the upgradation, it has been increased to 250 beds.
District Surgeon Dr. Madhusoodan Nayak, District Health Officer Dr. K. Rohini, CMC President Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje among others were present.
