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Kerala govt defers launch of ‘Kerala Generics’ scheme due to failure of procurement of adequate quantity of drugs
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
April 01 , 2017
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The Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) has decided to defer the
launch of the much talked about scheme, ‘Kerala Generics’ till April 15
or the end of the month due to failure of procurement of adequate
quantities of drugs. The scheme was scheduled to be launched on April 1
this year in five medical colleges and one general hospital.
Dr D
Dilip, general manager of the Corporation, informed Pharmabiz that it
could not procure adequate quantities of the targeted varieties of
medicines. NABL approvals for 30 more drugs are yet to receive. He said
availability of the state health minister is also looked for the
inaugural function of the generic outlets.
Even though the state
government is going ahead with all arrangements to start special
generic counters under the banner 'Kerala Generics', the central
government scheme for the distribution of generic versions, Pradhan
Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK), is largely being set up in various
districts in Kerala. There was allegation that Kerala government is not
interested to promote the central scheme PMJAK and in place of it, the
state government is launching the scheme Kerala Generics to promote
generic drugs.
According to Dr Dilip, 111 categories of generic
versions will be distributed through the outlets of Kerala Generics.
Corporation has already procured 60 varieties of medicines and in
another two weeks time all the drugs will reach the Corporation’s
warehouse. The generic outlets are planned to be started at medical
colleges at Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur,
Kozhikodu, and in the general hospital at Ernakulam.
When asked
about the functioning of Karunya Pharmacies of KMSCL, the GM said all
the 54 outlets are working well and it received a turnover of Rs.184
crore in 2016-17 financial year. Shortly, KMSCL will start ten more
Karunya Pharmacy outlets in 10 centres. The Corporation targets a
turnover of Rs.200 crore in the next fiscal.
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