Chennai :

After Amma canteens, water and salt, plans are afoot to create infrastructure for Amma pharmacies across the state to provide cheap medicine for the poor. The AIADMK government will soon unveil 100 Amma Marunthagam (medical shops) across Tamil Nadu, a proposal that promises to win more goodwill for chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Reiterating her commitment towards creating a welfare state, these Amma pharmacies will sell medicines at a subsidised rate.

A senior official said the co-operative department has been working hard for the launch of the Amma medical shops across the state in 100 places. The shops are ready and staff is being recruited. “Finance minister O Panneerselvam announced the proposal in the state budget in February. We have almost completed the process of setting up the shops,” a senior official in the co-operative department said.

Officials said 10 shops will be opened in Chennai and 90 shops in the rest of the state. “A few co-operative shops in Tamil Nadu have been selling medicines without service tax. The idea of opening medical shops is to ensure sale of medicine at reasonable price to the public,” an official said. The state government had announced that Rs 20 crore will be used from the price distribution fund for opening the Amma pharmacies.

“Though the Amma pharmacies are limited and may not totally fulfill the demand of the people, the low price at which we sell medicines will force private shop owners to at least give some discount. The number of shops will be increased later,” sources said. The co-operative department is likely to recruit pharmacists through Medical Services Recruitment Board (MSRB).

The government recently introduced Amma salt in the market and packaged it as three varieties – low sodium, double fortified and refined free flow iodized salt, all cheaper than similar products available in the open market.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / June 24th, 2014