Alappuzha: Karunya pharmacies that provide medicines at discounted rates will soon be introduced at private hospitals. The hospitals under the Charitable Societies Act will now receive medicines from Karunya. Karunya pharmacy will also cater to the needs of palliative societies, cancer treatment centres, local body institutions and the Vayomithram project. 

Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL) delivers medicines in bulk quantities to government hospitals. It also provides generic medicines for Karunya pharmacies. Karunya pharmacies also sell branded medicines after purchasing them directly. The medicines are sold with up to 40 to 90 per cent discount. Karunya looks after the other expenses with 7 per cent of profit made from the sale of medicines. 

Famous private hospitals buy branded medicines directly at present. As small-scale private hospitals cannot purchase medicines in such huge quantities as there will not be much change in prices. Karunya pharmacies will deliver medicines at much reduced prices to these hospitals.