Is taking a medicine of low or no price on discount sale equal to not taking medicine at all? The government time and again, has been instrumental in giving out free medicines to evade a greater harm out of a disease or epidemic. We might have got filarial prevention tablets or polio medicines from government health workers but how many of us have actually used it?
The Jana Sanjeevini Scheme which has a generic medicine and 12×7 pharmacy centre offers10 percent discount on branded medicines, 25 percent discount on surgical medicines and 50 percent discount on generic medicines for all. One is situated near Wenlock Hospital and another near Ladygoshen Hospital on trial basis.
This medicine disbursing scheme seems to be mind boggling. Jana Sanjeevini, though started with a good intention of making Mangaluru a healthy smart city, seems to be quite unpopular. With this offer, there should have been huge lines than that of which we find in front of banks/ATMs these days. Due to lack of publicity only few people are seen.
Pooja, assistant pharmacist at the store, speaking to newskarnataka.com said, “The store was inaugurated in September 2016. Nearly 100 to 150 people come for medicines every day for generic medicines. This scheme doesn’t seem to catch the eye as there is a notion that cheaper medicines are substandard. However, we are hoping to see more people approach us for medicines. A new branch is to be opened in Udupi as well.”
Newskarnataka did a reality-check of whether the scheme is reaching the needy or not. “People are not aware of Jana Sanjeevini medical store as it is not publicized. If proper publicity is made then there are chances of people coming to get medicines,” said Sunil speaking to newskarnataka.com. “Is there such a scheme?” was the reaction of a puzzled Mangalorean. Joel and Divya spoke to some people from the city and most said, “There is a store but we never went there”. Some auto drivers said, “We buy medicines from regular medical stores but never went to Jana Sanjeevini. We will try next time.” Though the scheme was introduced to help the common man, he doesn’t seem to be aware about the scheme or lacks trust on government provided cheaper medicines.
Dr. Rajeshwari Devi, District surgeon and Medical Superintendent said, “A tender has been given to Hindustan Life-care Limited (HLL) and the company has to look after the fulfillment of medicines. Since the government hospital gives medicines free of cost, the people who come here don’t feel the need to go there. To publicise the scheme the government has to go for banners and hoardings and also media promotion.”
Minister U T Khader, speaking to newskarnataka.com said, “Jana Sanjeevini is district and taluk level 24×7 Pharmacy and a generic medical store which was mainly established to help people get medicines for a cheaper price. This medical store is not yet fully fledged. More publicity will be given when the scheme is out full-fledged. There is not much publicity done since it is on a trial. I have invited the present health minister to Mangaluru to make this project a full-fledged one.
The scheme launched keeping the poor and middle class section of the society will be a super flop if it fails to serve the purpose. The scheme has almost ended in a failure because neither most of people are aware of the scheme nor are they confidant enough to buy the cheaper medicines. The government needs to publicise the scheme and let the common man benefit from it.
