Jaya to open five Amma pharmacies in Coimbatore district today

COIMBATORE: The five Amma pharmacies promised to Coimbatore district will finally be opened on Sunday by newly sworn-in chief minister Jayalalithaa through video-conference. Implementation of the welfare scheme announced almost a year ago, will come as a huge relief for people suffering from chronic illnesses.
The district collectorate confirmed to TOI that all Amma pharmacies will be opened on Sunday.
The five pharmacies, which will sell medicines at subsidized rates, will come up at Velandipalayam Credit Urban Co-operative Society, Pollachi Co-operative Wholesale Store, Sulur Urban Credit Co-operative Society, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Store on Mettupalayam Road and Uppilipalayam Urban Co-operative Society. “We told the co-operative societies to start preparations for opening the pharmacies almost a week ago,” said an official from collectorate.
Officials say the pharmacies will be equipped with all the medicines, nutrition supplements and body care products that are found in any pharmacy. “They will have formula feed brands like Cerelac and Farex and body care brands like Himalaya, Lotus and, Johnson and Johnson,” said the official.
The pharmacies will be a huge boon for patients suffering from conditions such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and transplants. “Medicines for my treatment costs me around Rs 7,500 a month,” said U Karthikeyan, a retired railways official who underwent a heart transplant two years ago. “Even if this comes down to 5,000 it will make a difference for people living on pensions,” he said.
Amma pharmacies, the first of which began functioning in June last year in Nanganallur, are known to sell medicines at least 10% to 15% cheaper than private chemists.
Amma pharmacies, are known to sell medicines at least 10% to 15% cheaper than private chemists
The pharmacies will open at Velandipalayam Credit Urban Co-operative Society, Pollachi Co-operative Wholesale Store, Sulur Urban Credit Co-operative Society, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Store on Mettupalayam Road and Uppilipalayam Urban Co-operative Society.