Generic drug stores to be set up for poor people of Mizoram
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Aizawl, July 17 2014: Mizoram State Health Care Society (MSHCS) Governing Body headed by its Chairman Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla held its 13th meeting today at the latter's cabinet room in which it was decided that a provision may be made such that the poor and the needy people may be relieved of their burden in purchasing medicines at high rates.

In order to help the poor, generic drugs, which are priced at almost half the price of brand name drugs, may be made available, the Governing Body of the Mizoram Health Care Society meeting decided.

This provision is as per a scheme proposed by Ministry of Chemical & Fertilisers, Department of Pharmaceuticals of central government, the meeting said.

Generic drugs are such which take the names of chemical present in the drugs, unlike those brand name drugs which have different names as given by the manufacturing companies for purpose of endorsement and marketing, despite containing the same chemicals.

For the start of the poor-friendly provision, Jan Aushadhi (JAN) Generic Drug Store may be set up under the administration of Mizoram State Health Care Society at Aizawl Civil Hospital compound, the Governing Body meeting resolved.

It also decided that the same initiative may be further carried out in each district besides at PHCs across the state.

The meeting necessarily mentioned that Generic drugs and brand name drugs have the same effect in the body.

The meeting of the Governing Body of the State Health Care Society also discussed over implementation of Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) by private employers such as private schools, nursing homes and other private institutions within Aizawl Municipal Council.

The scheme, if implemented, shall benefit the employees in Private institutions who hitherto are not paid in their absence due to illness, the meeting said, mentioning that Employees State Insurance Scheme is carried out by ESI Corporation.

However, since the employers would need to have a deposit share in ESIC, a meeting between the two- employers and ESI Corporation will be necessary first, the MSHCS Governing Body said.

Mention was made in the meeting that Urban Health Centre, ITI has been selected for setting up of ESI Dispensary.

It was also highlighted that during 2014 � 2015, 152983 were registered for RSBY, and 111678 people in MSHCS.

Also, during the same period, Rs.1, 47, 22,460 had been released under RSBY for patients, and under MSHCS, Rs.83, 54,626 had been released, the meeting mentioned.

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