The chain of Neethi Medical Stores made revolutionary intervention in the business of medicine sales in the State, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Sunday. He was inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of Neethi Medical Stores scheme, launched under the Kerala State Co-operative Consumers’ Federation, at Adlux Convention Centre, Angamaly.
The chain of medical stores were launched in 1998 when E.K. Nayanar was the Chief Minister of the State. There were 496 Neethi Medical Stores in the State till 2016. The present government promised to expand the number of stores and there are 1,706 Neethi Medical Stores at present, which account for a total of ₹923 crore worth of sales.
There are also 12 Neethi Medical Store warehouses under Consumerfed. The stores offer between 14% and 70% discount on medicines. The stores also supply medicines and medical equipment to primary health centres and medical colleges as well as veterinary colleges.
Consumerfed is also reworking its medicine sales programme to offer more advantages to its customers. Dialysis and cancer patients will have new schemes. There is also a plan to launch manufacture of generic medicines. Consumerfed was also planning to supply surgical equipment to primary health centres under local bodies, said a press release.
The Thriveni brand of products from Consumerfed has contributed to strong market intervention by the government agency. More products from cooperatives will be made available through Thriveni stores. There are also plans to launch export of local products using Consumerfed channels.
Cooperative societies that did well in running Neethi Medical Stores were honoured by Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, who presided at the inaugural programme. Consumerfed Chairman M. Mehboob, MLA P. Nandakumar, and Kerala Bank president Gopi Kottamurikkal were among those present at the inauguration.
