Panaji:
Retailing of medicines is set to undergo a sea-change in the country with pharmacy shops selling not only medicines but also offer counselling services to patients and provide facilities for blood check up, sugar test among others, trade sources said.
The major reason for the overhaul of the trade is possible competition that would emerge from foreign companies after being allowed to set up shop here.
The Indian pharma outlets would counter the threat from foreign companies at the structural level by forming a company of their own, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) President J S Shinde told reporters in Panaji on Sunday.
They have formed a company called All Indian Origin Chemist and Druggist Distribution Ltd with a share capital of Rs 14 crore. Besides, there would be some state-level companies as well.
"We have formed state level companies under the parent company in the states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Rajasthan and few more," Shinde said adding they are creating infrastructure including warehouse facilities at vital places to ensure medicines reach across the country.
"We have drafted our own model to introduce changes in the system which is focused on consumer as well as retailer," Shinde said.
AIOCD which has 6.5 lakh members across the country has also decided to make pharmacies a place where patients are offered counselling about the diseases and medicines.
"They will also provide primary health to the consumers' right from blood check up, sugar test, calories test and others," Shinde added.
Besides, to fulfil their social responsibility, AIOCD has also decided to provide medicines for HIV and diabetics patients below poverty line at a low cost.
The pharmacists will also double up as social workers spreading health awareness and inform people on the ailments like water borne and air-borne diseases, he said.