CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s livestock farmers are set to receive a major boost as State Government is set to roll out ‘Blue Cross’ veterinary medicine stores in six districts to make advanced animal healthcare more accessible and affordable.
Sharing details of the initiative, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the move will significantly reduce the financial burden on farmers and strengthen the rural livestock economy.
Explaining the contours of the scheme, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that livestock farmers will receive a 30 percent discount on all generic veterinary medicines and a 20 percent discount on branded medicines at the ‘Blue Cross’ stores, a step aimed at ensuring affordability without compromising on quality.
The Minister further informed that the ‘Blue Cross’ stores will be established within state-of-the-art veterinary polyclinics in Gurdaspur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Amritsar districts. These veterinary polyclinics, where advanced Indoor Patient Department services were launched last year, reflect the Punjab Government’s focus on building strong institutional and multi-specialty animal healthcare systems across the state.
“Our farmers are the backbone of Punjab’s prosperity and the health of their livestock is directly linked to their income and well-being. The Blue Cross stores are a key step towards health and prosperity by making quality animal healthcare affordable and accessible, ” S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said.
He added that the initiative will have a far-reaching impact on livestock farmers by enhancing affordability through discounted medicines, encouraging preventive care, and protecting farmers’ income.
The Animal Husbandry Minister noted that direct access to genuine medicines within polyclinics will ensure safety and will save critical time, while the integration of pharmacy services with existing IPD facilities will provide a seamless continuum of care from diagnosis to recovery. “Healthier livestock will lead to higher productivity and will strengthen the sustainability of dairy and allied rural economies, ” he said.
Highlighting the administrative commitment behind the initiative, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Rahul Bhandari said that the state government remains focused on strengthening the agrarian ecosystem and uplifting every stakeholder in the animal husbandry value chain. He said such initiatives will further consolidate Punjab’s position as a leader in livestock welfare and rural prosperity.