Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002 |
| Southern States | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Southern States
-
Kerala
By Our Staff Reporter
Speaking to presspersons here today, the Oushadhi chairman, Mathew Stephen, and the managing director, N. Gopinth, said health care would be totally free at the medical centre. They also said that Oushadi, for the first time, would introduce an `ayurvedic first aid kit' for the pilgrims. The kit would contain pain balm and medicines for fighting muscle fatigue, stomach problems and for general health. The kit worth Rs. 50, which comes in a package of strap-on format, can be used even after the pilgrim returns home, they said. The medical centre will be formally opened at Pampa on Tuesday by the Forest Minister, K. Sudhakaran. Diversification: Reacting to a question, Mr. Stephen said the company had major diversification plans on the anvil. One major thrust area would be direct operationalisation of medical centres. The first of its kind would come up in Thrissur in the form of a `panchakarma centre'. According to him, the overplay of tourism centres has put `pancha karma'on a par with massage. Some of the centres which offer `pancha karma' are doing it at an exhorbitant price. Oushadhi would try to provide the real `pancha karma' programme at an affordable cost. Oushadhi has also plans to open centres in association with the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, he said and added that another major thrust area would be the entry into veterinary medicines, now dominated by modern medicines. The company, ably assisted by the Medicinal Plant Board, hopes to undertake a major drive in popularising medicinal plant cultivation in the State. According to him, the focus on herbal medicines worldwide has created an unprecedented demand for herbal plants and this is posing a major threat to the biodiversity of the forests in the State. To overcome this threat, medicines have to be produced from cultivated area. Oushadhi hopes to popularise and produce more herbal medicines with the active participation of farmers and hopes to set up a network, which would create ready market for the product with the help of pharmaceutical companies. As the first phase of the awareness campaign, schools and students would be incorporated into the programme in the coming academic year. Reacting to a question, Mr. Stephen said Oushadhi had a turnover of Rs. 12 crores in the Rs. 200-crore ayurvedic drug industry in the State. While the market is dominated by private sector, Oushadhi, with its more than 500 outlets Statewide, has played a key role in holding the priceline of ayurvedic medicines to affordable range. The price of modern medicines has skyrocketed during the past few years, but in spite of the unprecedented boom in ayurvedic medicines, Oushadhi could hold the priceline of ayurvedic medicines to affordable rates. Oushadhi has made a profit of Rs one crore during last fiscal and hopes to double its profit during the current financial year, Mr. Stephen said. Last year, the company had paid a dividend of Rs. 6 lakhs to the Government and this year the amount would double. The company has set a target of at least 25 per cent increase in its turnover during next financial year.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
