Gujarat to replicate Tamil Nadu Model

When populism comes with a welfare tag, it finds a pan-Indian attraction. This seems to be the case with the AIADMK government’s scheme to make essential drugs available to the people at affordable rates. Taking a leaf out of the Tamil Nadu model, the Gujarat government is closely studying ‘Amma Marundhagam’ (Amma Pharmacy), a project to supply medicines to the public at subsidised rates.

Gujarat Chief Secretary D.J. Pandian told that a team had already been working on this, and a final decision would be made by the end of this year. He said that, Gujarat is very keen on this project. Mr. Pandian said that, now, most of the pharmaceutical industries — both national and international — are based in Gujarat. So the State government is considering of giving generic drugs at cheaper costs.

In Tamil Nadu, ‘Amma Pharmacy’ drugs are sold through co-operative departments. The medicines are sold 10-15 per cent lower than the retail price. Gujarat plans to replicate this model by 2015.  One of the major concerns in Gujarat is the shortage of doctors. The government spends only three percent of its total expenditure on healthcare. Tamil Nadu spends four per cent. It is not just healthcare, the Gujarat team is evaluating various other social schemes too. Mr. Pandian said that, Gujarat government is open to ideas from other States. But it can’t replicate everything. For instance, ‘Amma Unavagam’ (eateries) is a great success in Tamil Nadu, but this model would not work well in Gujarat, where the food habits were different.