Coronavirus outbreak: Avoid handshakes, greet with namaste, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked people to not pay attention to rumours regarding coronavirus and emphasised the need to follow the advice of doctors in this regard. He also asked people to avoid handshakes and start greeting others with ‘namaste’.

“In such times rumours circulate very rapidly. Some say don’t eat this, don’t do that. Some people will bring in new things such as eat this to keep coronavirus away. It is my request to all my fellow countrymen, kindly keep away from these kinds of rumours,” he said.

“Whatever you do, kindly do it on the advice of your doctor. Let’s not become doctors ourselves,” the Prime Minister said.

The entire world is taking up the habit of ‘namaste’, Modi said. If because of some reason we have discontinued this habit, it is the right time to once again take this up instead of handshakes, Modi said.

He was interacting with owners of some Jan Aushadhi Kendras and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) through video conference on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

“Jan Aushadhi Diwas is not only a day about celebrating a scheme, but it is a day to join with crores of Indians, lakhs of families who have got major relief through this scheme,” Modi said.

It is also a day to reach out to other people to popularise this scheme so that poorest of the poor of the country can also avail the benefits, he added.

Talking about the impact of the PMBJP initiative, he said every month, over one crore families are getting benefits of cheap medicines from these Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

Over 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country have helped people save between Rs 2,000-2,500 crore, he added.

The cost of medicines at Jan Aushadhi stores is 50 to 90 per cent cheaper than their average market price. Giving an example, he said a medicine used for the treatment of cancer is priced at around Rs 6,500 in the market, but the same is available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras for Rs 850.

The government has decided to give awards in this field to recognise the efforts of the people who are running these stores. These awards will start a new, healthy competition in the field of Jan Aushadhi, he added.

“I believe the biggest beneficiary of this competition will be poor and middle class,” Modi said. He also appealed to state governments to ask doctors to prescribe only generic medicines.