The Central Government has sanctioned 1,000 Jan Aushadhi (generic medicine) shops for Andhra Pradesh. A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed by the Central and State Governments in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Petroleum Anant Kumar and State Minister for Health Kamineni Srinivas signed the MoU.
Mr. Srinivas said that this would be a big boon to the poor in the State.
One Jan Aushadhi shop would come up in every mandal in the State and over 600 different types of drugs would be available in these shops at one-tenth of the price of branded drugs.
There would be one Jan Aushadhi shop for every 50,000 people.
He said the Central Government would extend Rs 2.5 lakh for each shop in the State.
Along with the drugs for general ailments, these shops would also retail drugs for chronic and terminal illnesses like haemophilia, cancer and HIV, Mr. Srinivas said.
Mr. Kumar said that he would inaugurate the shops along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on August 15.
PG and MBBS seats
The Health Minister said the Medical Council of India (MCI) had granted permission for post-graduate seats in general surgery in the Siddhartha Medical College and MBBS seats in the Nellore Government Medical College.
He said he had requested MCI president Jayshree Ben Mehta for permission to government medical colleges to conduct admissions.
Prinicipal Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah and DME Subba Rao attended the meeting along with the Minister.
State signs
an MoU
with
Central government
in New Delhi
