The Zeelab initiative: Affordable medication for all

By India Today Web Desk:

The inception of Zeelab Pharmacy was driven by the goal of making high-quality medication available at affordable prices to as many people as possible, thereby enabling medical treatment to be accessible to everyone. Additionally, the Zeelab Pharmacy also aims to provide employment opportunities by involving entrepreneurs in the process. The initiative, since its launch in 2019, has successfully completed three remarkable years, a feat that is a source of pride!

Discussing the scenario in India today, bearing the cost of medical facilities even for the common man is challenging, causing people to neglect their health. Visiting a doctor for even a minor ailment implies incurring a hefty fee and the expense of costly medications, which are unaffordable not just for the lower-middle class, but also for the common man. It is a fact that 70% of the total treatment cost is spent on medications, because doctors prescribe branded drugs, which are sold at high prices due to the costs of advertising those patented drugs and the quest for greater profits. Such medications are completely out of reach for the ordinary people. In such a scenario, Zeelab Pharmacy initiatives aim to alleviate the burden on people's pockets in healthcare by launching Zeelab Pharmacy in various districts across the country. Run by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, this scheme provides high-quality medications at affordable prices to all citizens.

Objectives of the Initiative:

• Ensure access to affordable and quality medications for all, especially the poor and the deprived!
• Through education and advocacy, attempt to spread awareness about generic drugs – that quality is not limited to expensive drugs; generic drugs offer the same quality too!
• Involve individual entrepreneurs in opening Zeelab centres to increase job opportunities!

Benefits of the Initiative:

The medications available under this scheme, in addition to being lower in price, match the quality and efficacy of expensive branded drugs. These affordable medications reduce your treatment expenses without burdening your pocket. Typically, due to the burden of expensive medications, most people abandon their treatment halfway and are forced to compromise their health, which isn't right!

Journey of Zeelab:

Today, Zeelab has opened over 1500 stores across the country. In the last two years, Zeelab has helped its customers save more than 500 crore rupees in medical expenses! Zeelab is rapidly expanding its online presence! Zeelab delivers medicines to customers in Delhi within 2 hours! Recently, Zeelab has launched a new campaign for mental health where patients can talk to a psychiatrist via WhatsApp on 74370 99999 and find solutions to their problems!

Service and employment

This program is not just providing people with affordable medicines, but it's also a good source of self-employment with sustainable income! Through this scheme, quality medicines are available at affordable prices through public-private partnership as dedicated stores for selling generic medicines! This scheme aligns completely with the tagline of Zeelab Pharmacy!

Sanitary napkins are made available to all women

Zeelab Pharmacy has taken a significant step to ensure the health safety and hygiene of Indian women! This is a major step towards providing cleanliness, health, and convenience to the women of the country. At the same time, it is realizing that dream of Zeelab where everyone gets affordable and quality health services and a vision of Clean India and Green India has been envisioned!

Through this scheme, a saving of approximately ₹500 crores has been made possible for the citizens in 3 years.

Key Features

This scheme is operated by private entrepreneurs along with government agencies! Prices of Zeelab Pharmacy medicines are usually 50 to 90% less than branded medicines available in the open market. To ensure the quality of products, medicines are manufactured only in the plant certified by World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices! Each batch of medicine in the warehouse is supplied only after quality inspection!

Jan Aushadhi Sugam Mobile Application - Zeelab Pharmacy has various user-friendly options available in the mobile application to bring this scheme to people's reach! For example, search your nearest Zeelab Pharmacy centers via Google Maps, compare the prices of generic and branded medicines, etc. Through this scheme, a saving of approximately ₹15,000 crores has been made possible for the citizens!

The Zeelab project, which is constantly moving forward with the inspiration of Zeelab Pharmacy, has emerged as a lifesaving scheme for the poor, deprived, and marginalized people of the country. Most people were those who could not afford expensive medicines, but since the arrival of Zeelab Pharmacy, the reach of medicine to the poor, deprived, and marginalized people of the country has increased. With the availability of quality medicines at low prices, the dream of a healthy India is also being realized along with economic savings.

Locate your nearest Zeelab Pharmacy on your mobile. Download the app from the Google Play Store

Click here to visit the website. Contact: 9896112555