In this regard, Bhagwan, retired Deputy Director of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) said:
The National Medicines Price Authority has given permission to increase the price of essential medicines by 12.12 percent.
Due to this, patients from poor and middle class families are affected. Therefore, people should use affordable pharmacies.
These pharmacies also have quality branded medicines available in other drug stores.
As hospitals buy drugs in bulk, they are supplied with cheap drugs. But common people are burdened.
Due to importation of drugs in international market and availability of drugs, prices of branded drugs have increased. In this situation, people should make more use of the central government’s affordable pharmacies.
This is what he said.
Affordable Pharmacy officials said:
Affordable Pharmacies in Bangalore are working well.
Many dispensaries have annual sales of over Rs 1 crore.
Dispensing quality medicines at low cost is the aim of pharmacies.
Low-income, poor families are affected by rising drug prices. Most people spend their hard earned money on expensive drugs.
Steps have been taken to expand low-cost pharmacies across the country to help economically disadvantaged people.
Currently, there are 1,050 dispensaries in 31 districts of Karnataka.
In these dispensaries, 1,076 types of medicines, 145 surgical equipments are sold at low prices.
This is what he said.