Thiruvananthapuram: In House Drug Bank (IHDB) at Sree Avittom Thirunaal Hospital, popularly known as SAT in Kerala, functioning alongside the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, has set an example for the whole world, by providing drugs at much lower-priced than the MRP rate.
The SAT hospital aims at providing quality healthcare, on par with global standards, to the women and children.
The In House Drug Bank functioning in the premises of the SAT Hospital has always been a relief for the common people here as they can get their medicines at a very affordable rate from here.
IHDB sells medicines at a price of 28 to 98 per cent lower than the MRP rates on them.
In House Drug Bank started operations under the leadership of Dr Hariharan in 1993.
It was for the first time in India that a drug-selling counter under the Government Health department started selling medicines to common people at a much lower rate than the actual MRP.
During COVID times, SAT Drug Bank created a revolution by selling N 95 masks at Rs 10 each and PPE kits from Rs 275 to Rs 350.
The number of persons who depend on drugs for lifestyle diseases, neurological, cardiological and nephrological problems is very high in Kerala.
The cost of these drugs is also generally on the higher side, and mostly not affordable to common men.
The drug bank is a relief for such people who can buy their regular drugs for these conditions at the lowest rate available.
More than 3500 to 4000 patients reach SAT In House Drug Bank on an average day. During COVID lockdown period, SAT had a record sales of drugs worth Rs 1.68 crore.
Average daily revenue at the SAT Drug Bank ranges from about Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore. A drug centre under the government rarely marks such a high sale every day.
The SAT In House Drug Bank has also entered the Limca Book of World Records and the Guinness Book of Records.
SAT IHDB has been making drugs available at the different Government Hospitals in Kerala and for other Health schemes including Palliative Care.
Chief Pharmacist of SAT IHDB A Biju is said to be the pillar behind the steady growth of IHDB in drug sales.
If the daily sale volume remains high, the pharmaceutical companies would be ready to provide the stock at the lowest rate, says Biju. Bargaining with the companies and prompt payments are the other factors that helped in the success. The actual profit is for the public, he adds.
The SAT Golden Jubilee building which cost Rs 3.5 Crore was built up using the profit share of the IHDB.
Biju says drug sales is not an easy business at all. He has received threats many a time from strangers.
Though complaints at the State Minister’s office and Vigilance department are usual here, the allegations are short-lived, he says.
SAT IHDB to be India’s first modern pharmacy
SAT IHDB is all set to be India’s first modern pharmacy. At the IHDB modern pharmacy, for which the construction is on at Rs 5 crore, the patients would be given individual counselling, and a kiosk would be set up for the public to know about all medicines.
Televised classes led by leading doctors on different health conditions, ATM counters, a token system to avoid standing in queues to buy medicines, online facility to home deliver the medicines would all be facilitated at the new building.
Most people are unaware of the drug instructions - on how to take the medicine and what not to eat or drink while taking a particular medicine and how to follow a healthy lifestyle.
Modern pharmacy proposes to fill this gap and make people aware of all these aspects and to live a healthy life.
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