The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to foray into the retail pharmaceutical business through the Co-operatives department has resulted in regular customers of private pharmaceutical retailers getting their medicines at discounted prices in those places where Amma Pharmacy outlets have been set up.
For instance, at Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram district, an Amma Pharmacy was opened in December last year. While the first month sales figure stood at Rs.64,000, it gradually increased to Rs.1.12 lakh in March 2015 as more people switched over to Amma Pharmacy since the medicines were sold at 10 per cent less than the minimum retail price, says S.Surya, pharmacist.
However in April 2015, the sales figure declined by around Rs.5,000 as some of the Amma Pharmacy customers moved back to their regular chemist as the latter too offered medicines at discounted prices, similar to the rates at the government-run pharmacies.
“But we are confident that we can create our own customer base as we offer infant food and other health care products at 3 per cent discount apart from 10 per cent discount for medicines,” Mr. Surya adds.
The overall sales figure of Amma Pharmacy in Uthiramerur from December to April 27 this year is Rs.4.57 lakh against Rs.6.75 lakh worth medicines and other products purchased for the same period.
Similarly, at Chengalpattu where an Amma Pharmacy was opened in December 2014, the cumulative sales figure stood at Rs.7 lakhs till April 27 against the purchase of stocks worth Rs.9.79 lakhs, sources add.
