**Agartala, June 16:** Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu on Tuesday stressed the need to expand access to affordable medicines across the state during a visit to the generic medicine outlet at GB Hospital in Agartala. The Governor also called for the introduction of digital payment facilities at the hospital’s store and encouraged greater participation from pharmacists, self-help groups (SHGs), and educated youth in establishing more generic medicine outlets.
During his inspection, Governor Nallu reviewed the functioning of the outlet and interacted with officials and staff. Speaking to reporters, he highlighted the growing burden of healthcare expenses on families, particularly the middle class, and emphasized the importance of affordable medicines in reducing out-of-pocket medical costs.
The Governor noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the promotion of generic medicines has received special attention, enabling citizens to purchase essential drugs at significantly lower prices. He explained that generic medicines contain the same active ingredients, dosage strength, safety standards, and therapeutic benefits as branded medicines, but are available at a fraction of the cost.
“Generic medicines are equally effective and safe. Since manufacturers do not incur heavy expenditure on repeated clinical trials and advertising, these medicines can be sold at much lower prices, making healthcare more accessible to common people,” he said.
Governor Nallu pointed out that patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease could save between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 every month by opting for generic medicines. However, he expressed concern over the limited number of generic medicine outlets currently operating in Tripura and called for efforts to increase their presence, especially in rural areas.
He urged qualified youth, particularly those holding B Pharma and related degrees, to take the initiative in opening generic medicine stores. He also suggested that licensed pharmacists collaborate with NGOs and SHGs to establish outlets in villages, creating livelihood opportunities while improving healthcare accessibility.
The Governor further drew attention to the lack of electronic and online payment facilities at the GB Hospital outlet. Emphasizing the growing preference for cashless transactions, he urged the authorities to introduce digital payment systems at the earliest to enhance convenience, transparency, and efficiency for patients and their families.
