Fate of Jan Aushadhi Stores remains uncertain

Fate of Jan Aushadhi Stores remains uncertain Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 3
The fair price drug stores, Jan Aushadhi Stores, to be opened by the Indian Red Cross Society in association with the Department of AYUSH, are being delayed due to some technical reasons.

With an aim to provide medicines to the people at rates cheaper than the market, the Jan Aushadhi Stores were to be opened at four places initially and later at all district headquarters. Last year, the Indian Red Cross Society was given approval for the establishment of four stores, one each in Srinagar, Anantnag, Jammu and Leh. But a drug store had been opened in Srinagar so far.

The fate of the other three stores is in the balance, as the powerful drug mafia is said to be opposing the project. However, the neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana already have 21, five and four such stores, respectively. “To provide generic medicines to the patients at cheaper rates, these stores were decided to be opened, but due to some technical problems the project was getting delayed,” said Feroz Ahmad, general secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu and Kashmir chapter.

Asked about the reasons for the delay in setting up these stores, Feroz said, “Land has been allotted for the other three stores. But the state government is yet to waive the rent of these stores, which is delaying the project.”

He said once the Civil Secretariat started functioning in Jammu, the demand for rent waiver would be taken up with the government.

The Drugs Department authorities said they were concerned over the delay in the opening of the stores. “Once these drug stores start functioning at main government hospitals, the people will be able to get quality medicines at affordable prices,” said a senior official of the Drugs Department.