BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 1st April 2026: The Health Department of Tripura has issued a detailed clarification regarding the availability and prescription of generic medicines across government healthcare facilities, following reports on the matter.
According to an official report from the Tripura MARKFED Generic Medicine (PMJAY) Central Store at Badharghat, a stock of at least 150 varieties of medicines is consistently maintained at all MARKFED medicine counters as well as at the central store. It has been informed that each counter maintains around 70 to 80 percent of the medicines required by patients. Officials clarified that minor shortages occur only when the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India is unable to supply medicines as per demand.
Meanwhile, a separate report from Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital stated that, in line with directives from the State Government and Health Department, all Heads of Departments (HODs) have been instructed to ensure that doctors prescribe generic medicines. The hospital administration has also been making consistent efforts to maximize the prescription of such medicines.
To further strengthen medicine accessibility, GBP Hospital has opened three additional medicine counters. Among these, two counters are offering medicines at discounts of up to 64 percent, excluding those under the Drug Price Control Order, whose prices are regulated by the Central Government. The hospital continues to supply most medicines required by both outdoor and indoor patients directly, while efforts are underway to enhance services at generic counters and introduce round-the-clock pharmacy services.
In a related development, the Medical Superintendent of IGM Hospital constituted a four-member inquiry committee to examine where a section of doctors are prescribing expensive branded drugs instead of generic medicines. The committee’s findings confirmed that doctors at the hospital are prescribing generic medicines as per guidelines.
