Prime Minister Indian Generic Medicine Scheme Expands to 16 West Bengal Colleges

West Bengal is set to broaden the reach of the Prime Minister Indian Generic Medicine Scheme by establishing sixteen new centers within its government medical colleges and hospitals. The initiative, executed through a public‑private partnership, is designed to make essential drugs more affordable for patients across the state.

Health officials highlighted that the PPP structure will allow private entities to handle procurement, storage, and sales while the state ensures compliance with quality standards. The procurement tender has already been issued, and shortlisted firms are expected to begin operations by the end of the year.

The first wave includes eleven centers in Kolkata and one each in Nadia, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, and Hooghly. These locations were chosen to maximize coverage and to serve densely populated districts where demand for low‑cost medication is high.

While several Indian states have already adopted the scheme, West Bengal had not implemented it during the previous Trinamool government. The current administration, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has accelerated the deployment of central welfare programs, positioning the new generic medicine centers as a flagship health‑care project.