The minister said currently the observation is that doctors do not prescribe generic medicines to patients.
The Maharashtra government has decided to open 350 generic medicine stores across the state this year. State Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) minister Girish Bapat said that the government is in the process of opening the maximum number of such stores soon.
"Recently, we started a generic medicine store in the Sassoon hospital premises in Pune. We have spent Rs20 lakh from my MLA fund for it. I appeal to all elected representatives to identify space and open generic medicine stores by using their funds. We are also approaching NGOs, Lions and Rotary clubs to extend their services so that the poor can afford to buy medicines," Bapat said.
The minister said currently the observation is that doctors do not prescribe generic medicines to patients. "We appeal to the doctors to prescribe generic medicines. Patients also need to insist on it. Health is important and people cannot afford to buy costly medicines; so, we have to promote and encourage generic medicines. This is the long-term solution and it has been a proven fact as well. We are aiming to open generic medicine stores at every taluka and main place," said the minister. He also appealed to transport minister Diwakar Raote to allot space in state transport depots to open generic medicine stores.
Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt said that the price of several medicines is beyond the reach of common man and because of this the central government had initiated the Generic Medicines Scheme. However, due to paucity of such stores in our state, the common man was being deprived of such reasonably priced medicines. "Hence, there is a need for the state government to accord priority to opening of such stores all over Maharashtra," he said. Dutt also urged the government to involve legislators in the promotion of the same. "The government should have a dialogue with Indian Medical Association and appeal to doctors to prescribe generic medicines," Dutt added.
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