BHUBANESWAR: The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), state branch, is planning to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi stores to 400 within a year. At present, just 16 such fair price shops sell generic medicines in the state. The shops, established under Centre-sponsored Jan Aushadhi scheme, sell 'quality' medicines, manufactured by PSUs, at a price as low as one-tenth of the prevailing market rate.

An initiative of the Union ministry of chemical and fertilizers, these shops popularize generic medicines. In Odisha, such stores are managed by the IRCS. The Medical Council of India recently asked doctors to prescribe generic medicines.