Baghel assures support to establish industries based on forest herbs

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Sept 25: Chhattisgarh Government will extend support in every possible way for the establishment of industries based on forest medicines in the state. State government will provide raw material, land, labour and necessary infrastructure on priority for such industries. Addressing the conference organized by Indian Pharmacist Association, Chhattisgarh, on the occasion of World Pharmacist Day at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Chhattisgarh has abundance of herbal medicines. Nearly 44 percent of the land area in the state is covered in forests, where different types of forest medicines are found in abundance. He called upon the pharmacists to come forward and establish industries based on medicines and herbal medicine in the state. Health Minister TS Singhdeo and Rajya Sabha MPs Chhaya Verma and Phoolodevi Netam also attended the conference.
In his address to the conference as chief guest, Chief Minister said that all the pharmaceutical manufacturers of the world are welcome in Chhattisgarh. Government will provide all the necessary resources, facilities and exemptions to the individuals or groups who wish to set up pharmaceutical industries in the state, whether they are from the state or outside the state. He said that the raw material would be provided to the Vanaushadhi units in the state at the rates fixed by Minor Forest Produce Association. The AYUSH and Health Department can directly buy locally produced medicines without any tender.
Chief Minister said in the conference that pharmacists can play an important role in popularizing generic medicines. Use of generic medicines can help in reducing the cost of medical treatment. He wholeheartedly praised the contribution of pharmacists as well as doctors, nurses, technicians, village panchayats, urban bodies, public representatives, social and voluntary organizations and government officials and employees in control and prevention of COVID-19 infection in the state. Chief Minister said that in the difficult times of COVID-19, every section of the society came through to support. The whole state unitedly fought against Corona and won.
Addressing the conference, Health Minister TS Singhdeo said that Chhattisgarh is emerging as a ‘Model State’ in the entire country. The whole country keeps an eye on the innovations and new initiatives happening in Chhattisgarh. Pharmacists along with doctors and other medical staff have done a commendable job during the COVID crisis. Pharmacists have played a vital role in ensuring the continuous manufacture, access and distribution of medicines across the world during the pandemic. Amidst the dangers of infection, medical shops and pharmacists were constantly ready to serve the people. Pharmacist is an essential link in ensuring access to life saving medicines to the people. Pharmacists have an important role in delivering health services through government and private medical institutions.
Singhdeo said that Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has sympathetically considered the needs of the health sector. He has generously approved the set-up of new posts and new recruitments. Advertisements for recruitment on 187 posts of Pharmacists have also been issued. Pharmacists were felicitated at the conference for their remarkable work. The ‘Pharmacist Book’ was also released by Chief Minister and other guests. In the program, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Hospital Board, Chairman of Indian Pharmacist Association, Chhattisgarh Dr. Vinod Kumar Verma, Association officials, Mrs. Rahul Verma, Vaibhav Shastri and Sandeep Chandrakar, along with a large number of pharmacists from all over the state were present.