The West Bengal Government plans to set up more fair price medicine shops in each of the districts of the State. There are 19 districts (including Kolkata) in Bengal.
According to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the setting up of fair price shops would help bring down the cost of medicines, thereby benefiting the end-consumers.
“These fair price shops give discounts, Some shops even give discounts of 50-60 per cent on some medicines,” she said at the inauguration of a fair price medicine shop at the State-run SSKM Hospital here today.
Banerjee also lashed out at the Chemist Shop Owners’ Association for keeping their shops closed on Monday in protest against the opening of fair price medicine shops in some hospitals.
“Why are you opposing the opening of fair price shops? What is the harm if poor people get medicines at subsidised prices?” she asked.