Chennai: Despite plans to launch 1,000 Chief Minister's Pharmacies (Mudhalvar Marundhagam) in Tamil Nadu by January, only 856 applications have been received so far.

The widespread popularity of the Prime Minister's Bharatiya People's Pharmacy ( Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana ) is cited as a key reason for the lack of interest.

The Tamil Nadu government's initiative to establish Chief Minister's Pharmacies, offering affordable generic and traditional medicines, has seen limited response.

Since the application process began, only 856 pharmacy graduates have applied via the Cooperative Department's website, https://mudhalvarmarundhagam.tn.gov.in.

The applications are currently under review by the Drug Control Department.

Launched in 2014, the Prime Minister's Bharatiya People's Pharmacy has gained nationwide traction, operating over 10,000 outlets.

These pharmacies provide 1,963 types of affordable medicines and 293 surgical instruments through drug depots in key cities like Chennai, Gurugram, and Bengaluru, achieving annual sales exceeding ₹1,000 crore.

In contrast, the Tamil Nadu government aims to launch 1,000 Chief Minister's Pharmacies, which will also sell Siddha, Ayurveda, and Unani medicines, along with generic drugs and medical devices. However, interest has been muted, with officials attributing the lukewarm response to the well-established reputation of the central initiative.

Drug control officials remain optimistic, noting that 220 generic drugs are being procured for the state initiative. They anticipate that more applications will be submitted before the planned January launch. "We are confident of reaching our target by then," an official stated.