Mangaluru : Former union minister Oscar Fernandes laid the foundation for the much-awaited 24×7 store for generic drugs and other medicines was laid on the Government Wenlock hospital premises on Saturday, March 7.

Janasanjeevini Medical Centre, operated by the Union government’s HLL Life Care Limited, will come up in the 700 sq ft space next to the dilapidated jail ward of the hospital.

Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said the store would become operational in three months. Generic medicines would be available here at 80 per cent less than the market price. Other medicines would be available at 20 per cent less than market price.

Mr. Khader said work was on to set up a similar facility in every district. “We will see how these stores function and then extend this facility to taluk centres,” he said.

Mr. Khader said the State government was fulfilling most of the promises made when it was formed. The government was giving final shape to a proposal to provide free treatment, up to Rs. 25,000, to road accident victims in the first 48 hours after admission in a hospital. It would shortly launch the bike ambulance facility, he added.

JR Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru South, Mohiuddeen Bava, MLA of Mangaluru North, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Rajeshwari Devi, District Medical Officer and several others were present.