https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Collector’s Push for Generic Medicines Bringing Relief to the Poor

Collector of BalodaBazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh, Rajat Bansal, is going all out to ensure doctors prescribe generic medicines. This push for generic medicines is aimed at providing medicines that are as good and effective as branded ones at affordable rates to patients. Soon after taking charge in his new posting, Collector Bansal convened a joint meeting with doctors and IMA representatives to discuss and roll out the idea.
Indian Masterminds Stories

It is rightly said that if a person is determined to do good, he will not wait for the right time or proper conditions to do so. He will spread positivity wherever he goes with his welfare work. Take the case of 2012-batch IAS officer Rajat Bansal. He was transferred and posted as Collector of BalodaBazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh only two weeks ago. But from the moment he took charge, he has busied himself in initiating measures that will give relief to those people who cannot afford costly health care. He is going all out to create awareness about and promote generic medicines in the district. On his advice, even private doctors have agreed to prescribe generic medicines. And, the good news is, the district chapter of the Indian Medical Association has also given its consent to it.

Indian Masterminds interacted with District Collector BalodaBazar–Bhatapara, Mr. Rajat Bansal, to know more about this people-friendly, as also pocket-friendly, initiative.

IAS officer Rajat Bansal

PRESCRIBE GENERIC MEDICINES

A meeting of officials and doctors affiliated to the Indian Medical Association, and all private and government doctors was called by District Collector Rajat Bansal at the Panchayat Auditorium at BalodaBazar–Bhatapara, where he discussed and took assurance from all doctors that they will henceforth prescribe generic medicines to patients. 

Another purpose of the meeting was to give information regarding the availability of medicines available in Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store so that economically weak patients can also get the best medicines at affordable rates. Such patients will benefit if medicines prescribed to them are made available from the Shri Dhanvantari Generic Medical Store.

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Bansal said, “Our aim is to give relief to the weaker sections. There is the Dhanwantri scheme, where all medicines are sold at 50-71% discount on the maximum retail price. But due to lack of prescription of generic medicines, people could not benefit from it. That is why, I started this initiative and am trying to create awareness about generic medicines.”

DHANWATRI SCHEME

The Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store provides low-cost generic medicines and enables seamless healthcare services to the vulnerable people of the state. The scheme is implemented by the Urban Administration and Development Department (UADD). Under the scheme, around 188 medical shops are planned to be opened in 169 cities. In these generic medical stores, medicines will be sold at a discounted price. All the medicines will be sold at 50-71% discount on the maximum retail price. Currently, 84 such generic medical shops are open.

IMA APPROVAL

In the meeting convened by the DC, the office bearers and members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) were informed about the medicines of 30 companies available in the Shri Dhanwantri Medical Store. The IMA members were also informed about the location of the store. They were also given suggestions on what should be done for popularization of generic medicines. The IMA representatives agreed to the suggestion for prescribing generic medicines.

REGULAR CHECKS

Mr. Bansal told Indian Masterminds that a joint committee of the Deputy Collector and the Chief Health Medical Officer (CHMO) was formed to check frequently whether the private doctors are prescribing generic medicines or not. If a doctor or private clinic is found to be not doing so, they will be called again to a meeting and further action will be taken. The IMA district unit will also be included in this committee soon. The committee will also work towards creating awareness towards generic medicines.

THE NEED FOR AWARENESS

On the need for creating awareness, Mr. Bansal said that they need to do it as people hesitate to buy generic medicines as they think it might not be that effective since it comes so cheap. Also, majority of the people in fact don’t know much about generic medicines. Hence, the committee decided to create awareness and assure people that generic medicines are as safe and effective as the brand ones.

WHY GENERIC MEDS NOT PRESCRIBED

As to why some doctors do not prescribe generic medicines, we came to know that there’s a nexus between medical stores and private clinics. Big companies are also involved in this with their medical representatives (MRs). Those doctors write the medicines which the MRs suggest to them. Also, in the case of Chhattisgarh, there was no such facility for generic medicines earlier where people could get discount. But now, since last year, exclusive medical stores for generic medicines are available in the state.

WHAT EXACTLY IS GENERIC MEDICINE

A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an existing approved brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics. So this is the medicines that is developed to be the same as a medicine that has already been authorised. But, it is way cheaper in comparison to the branded ones.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
8th Pay Commission members
8th Pay Commission Formed: Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to IAS Pankaj Jain – Know More About All Members
BEML,_DPA,_DMRC,_and_Umeandus_Collaborate_
BEML, DPA, DMRC, and UTIPL Collaborate to Launch India’s Advanced Rail-Based Freight System (e-FTS)
CSS central secretariat service
CSS Forum Expresses Gratitude to PM Modi, Union Cabinet for Approving 8th Central Pay Commission ToR, Urges Implementation by 2026
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes Rs 2 Lakh Cost on Senior Punjab Officials for Disobeying Court Orders on Modified Vehicles
CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Wife
Spiritual Fervor in Kunkuri: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Performs Sacred ‘Tulsi Archana’ Seeking Blessings for Chhattisgarh
HUDCO
HUDCO Signs MoUs Worth Over ₹5,500 Crore with Major Port Authorities to Boost India’s Maritime Infrastructure
Uttarakhand Ghost Villages
Turning Silence into Sustainability: Uttarakhand’s Plan to Revive Ghost Villages through Homestay Tourism
Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day 2025
Madhya Pradesh to Celebrate Foundation Day with Grand Events, Vision Document ‘Prosperous MP @ 2047’ to Be Released
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
8th Pay Commission members
8th Pay Commission Formed: Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to IAS Pankaj Jain – Know More About All Members
BEML,_DPA,_DMRC,_and_Umeandus_Collaborate_
BEML, DPA, DMRC, and UTIPL Collaborate to Launch India’s Advanced Rail-Based Freight System (e-FTS)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT