DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand is set to become the 17th state to implement the Free Generic Drug Scheme (FGDS), under which free of cost generic medicines, medical consumables and surgical items will be provided at all government hospitals and medical colleges for the general population.The state health department has received funds worth Rs 24.50 crore from the centre out of which Rs 15.75 crore have been earmarked for the purchase of generic medicines in the financial year 2014-15.Under the scheme, to be launched this week, the state which has been at the receiving end due to poor storage facility for medicines, will also get three state-of-the-art drug warehouses in Almora Tehri and Pauri districts. Currently, Uttarakhand has 755 drug distribution centres but not a single modern drugs warehouse."These are the most awaited warehouses of Uttarakhand because our ailing storage facilities have always been under the scanner of inspection teams since formation of the state. Now that the department has all the funds in place it should immediately implement the scheme," said a senior doctor from the health department.