A success story of policy change

Policy makers most often try to plan a policy after tedious deliberation and deft maneuvering but in very few cases they taste the desired success. Recently I have found one such success story.

The following scenario was prevalent just a month back in West Bengal.

• Bengal Chemist and Druggist Association (BCDA) is the largest association those have full control on the sale of medicinal products in West Bengal. If any company wish to market medicine in West Bengal then they have to give some amount to BCDA for each and every product.
• All the medicine shops affiliated to BCDA sell medicine against MRP printed on the packet. They do not allow their affiliated (read all) shops to sell products at discounted price. 
• If any shop tries to sell at discounted price then they are punished by some illegal means (Apollo shops in Kolkata were ransacked by some BCDA hoodlums). 
• The private medicine shops are unwilling to sell generic medicines even after several requests by the present Bengal Government.
• According to a report by Parijat Bandyopadhyay ["Pharmacist Niye Dhalao Durniti, Vortsona Rajyake"] in Anandabazar Patrika [11th Jan 2013] there are about 1 lakh medicine shops in West Bengal but only 13000 registered pharmacist in West Bengal. According to Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 a retail medicine shop cannot be opened or function. The real picture is With Rs.1500-2500 a pharmacist registration is given on rent to these shops. And the statistics says that one registration is certainly used by more than one shop. Here lies the corruption. 

Now the fair price policy by West Bengal government.

• Government took a policy to start fair-price medicine shops within the premises of state run hospitals under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. In this shops medicines under generic name are available and are given in discounted price.
• Six such fair-price medicine shops are showing sale ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 per day. The private medicine shops outside the hospitals are facing less sale due to these fair-price medicine shops. 
• BCDA immediately asked its affiliates to give discount ranging from 20% to 70% in 142 generic medicines.

The picture of success

• Cetrizine MRP Rs.28 / 10 tabs After discount Rs.8/- (70% reduction)
• Amoxycillin 250mg MRP Rs.47 / 10 caps After discount Rs.18/- (60% reduction)
• Norfloxacin MRP Rs.60 / 10 tabs After discount Rs.24/- (60% reduction)
• And so on ....goes the success story

The Mall-concept in the sale of medicine

Recently another development is taking place silently. 

• Big health care providers like Apollo, Med Plus, Fortis, and many more in this line are opening their chain of community pharmacies under their own brands in Kolkata. They will purchase medicines directly from the manufacturers and will supersede CNF Agent and Wholesaler and directly provide the medicines to the customer at discounted rate just like a Mall functions. Therefore before sale of vegetable the concept of FDI will enter into the foray of medicine sale. 
• They are recruiting registered Pharmacies from Pharmacy institute from West Bengal at salaries ranging from Rs. 9000 to Rs.12000 per month. 
• They are calling their outlets as "community pharmacies". Now our patients will see a new look of medicine dispensaries. 
• These chain of community pharmacies will spread its tentacles to the smaller but populous towns very shortly.

By all means the patients and their aggrieved families will be benefited. Here is the success of the fair-price policy recently initiated by the Bengal Govt. The success came after stubbornly and patiently withstanding all oppositions. The bad elements could not high-jack the good policy.

References

1. Anandabazar Patrika 11th Jan 2013
2. Anandabazar Patrika 17th Jan 2013