Barely five months after the State government announced its plan to open a chain of Amma Pharmacies in different parts of the State aimed at selling medicines and drugs at a discount, the Department of Cooperatives, the nodal agency to implement the project, opened the first Amma pharmacy here on Wednesday.
It is located on 11th Cross in Thillai Nagar, which is a health care hub in Tiruchi. Besides standard medicines and drugs, it has employed qualified staff members to handle the medicines as per the prescribed rules.
The pharmacy was declared open by T.P. Poonatchi, Minister for Khadi and Village Industries. R. Manoharan, chief whip, and Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector.
N. Mirunalini, Joint Registrar, Cooperatives, and Managing Director, Tiruchirappalli District Central Cooperative Bank, told The Hindu that medicines would be sold at 12 per cent discount on the maximum retail price. Consumers could rely on medicines as quality was a top priority. Computerised bills would contain all details including date of expiry of drugs. It would sensitise the customers.
Stating that it would tilt the customers towards Amma Pharmacy, she said it had been located at a strategic places to cater to the needy customers. Although sale target was yet to be fixed, the indication on the first day of opening suggested that it would be big hit among the people. Besides common and popular medicines, life saving drugs would be made available at the pharmacies.
Ms. Mirunalini said two more Amma Pharmacny would be opened, one at Srirangam and another at Amaravathi market, within a few weeks in the city. Possibilities of opening more pharmacies in other parts of the district would be explored and proposal would be sent to the government soon.
The Minister inaugurated an Amma Pharmacy at Thuraiyur on Wednesday.
