• Every year, March 7 is celebrated as ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ with a view to enhance awareness about the scheme and promote generic medicines.

• As of February 28, 2025, more than 15,000 Janaushadhi Kendras are functional across the country.

• Janaushadhi Kendras are a government initiative aimed at offering affordable and high-quality medicines to the public.

• These kendras function under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme, managed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

• 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.

• Prices of the Janaushadhi medicines are 50-80 per cent less than that of branded medicine’s prices available in the open market.

• Medicines are procured only from World Health Organisation–Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified manufacturers for ensuring the quality of the products.

• Each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL) for ensuring best quality.

• The product basket of the scheme now covers 2,047 drugs and 300 surgical equipment covering all major therapeutic groups such as cardiovascular, anti-cancers, anti-diabetics, anti-infectives, anti-allergic, gastro-intestinal medicines and nutraceuticals, among others.

• The endeavour of the government is to enhance the product basket of generic medicines and surgicals. It is a continuous process based on feedback of various stakeholders and market demands.

• Under PMBJP, an incentive of Rs 5 lakh is provided to the Janaushadhi Kendras as financial assistance. 

Objectives of the scheme:

i) 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.

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

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

Initiatives under PMBJP:

• Suvidha Sanitary Napkins: As an important step in ensuring the health security for Indian women, Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkins were launched on August 27, 2019 to be made available at Rs 1 per pad only. Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Napkins are being made available for sale in more than 15,000 PMBJP Kendras across the country. The cumulative sales of Suvidha Napkins as on January 31 is 72 crores.

• 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, compare prices of generic and branded medicines, etc.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)