Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), has completed the target of opening 8,300 Janaushadhi Kendras for the FY 2021-22.

The ministry of chemicals and fertilisers said that all the districts of the country have been covered under PMBJP. 

The government has set a target to increase the number of Janaushadhi Kendras to 10,000 by March 2024. 

As of October 5, 2021, there are 8,355 stores in the country. 

Background

• Jan Aushadhi was launched by the government in 2008 for making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all. The campaign was undertaken through the sale of generic medicines through exclusive outlets namely Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendra in various districts of the country.

• It was later renamed as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). 

• It aims to bring down the health care budget of citizens by providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices.

• The scheme is being implemented through the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), which is working under the administrative control of the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals & fertilisers.

Objectives of the scheme:

• To popularise generic medicines among the masses and dispel the prevalent notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.

• To make available quality medicines consumables and surgical items at affordable prices for all and thereby reduce out of pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.

• Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of PMBJP Kendras.

• The product basket of the scheme now covers 1,451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments in all major therapeutic categories such as anti-infectives, anti-allergics, anti-diabetics, cardiovasculars, anti-cancers, gastro-intestinal medicines, etc.

• The medicines listed in the product list of PMBJP are procured only from World Health Organisation – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products. Apart from this, each batch of the drug is tested at laboratories accredited by the ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.

• A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50 per cent of the average price of the top three branded medicines. Therefore, the price of Janaushadhi medicines is cheaper at least by 50 per cent and in some cases, by 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the market price of branded medicines.

• A mobile application ‘Janaushadhi Sugam’ has also been launched with user-friendly options like — locate nearby PMBJK (direction guided through Google Maps), search janaushadhi medicines, etc. 

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store