Govt. to open 25000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras for affordable medicines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the nation on 15th August 2023 on the occasion of 77th Independence Day announced to open 25000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to make medicines available at affordable prices.

Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, said the government plans to increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' (subsidised drug stores) from 10,000 to 25,000.

• Jan Aushadhi Kendras have given new power to the people, especially the middle class. If one has diabetes, then the monthly bill accumulates to Rs.3000.

• Through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the government is giving medicines worth Rs 100 for Rs 10 to Rs 15.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

• In the year 2008, PMBJP was started by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the name of 'Jan Aushadhi Abhiyan'.

• The campaign 'Jan Aushadhi Abhiyan' was revamped as PMBJP in the year 2015-16.

• Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) is the implementing agency for this. BPPI works under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Objective of PMBJP:

• Its main objective is to reduce the cost of consumers/patients by providing quality medicines, consumables and surgical materials at affordable prices to the common people.

• To popularise generic drugs and dispel the popular belief that low cost generic drugs are of inferior quality or less effective.

• Generally, generic drugs are non-branded drugs that are equally safe and equivalent in quality and efficacy to branded drugs.

• It also aims to generate employment by involving individual entrepreneurs through PMBJP.

Benefits of Jan Aushadhi Abhiyan: 

• The Jan Aushadhi initiative will make quality medicines available at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lower prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy to costlier branded medicines.

• To promote greater awareness of cost effective drugs and their prescription.

• To make available unbranded quality generic medicines at affordable prices through Public-Private Partnership.

5th Jan Aushadhi Divas 2023:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare celebrated the 5th Jan Aushadhi Divas 2023.

• The event was organised by the Bureau of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices of India.

• It's the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, in collaboration with States and Union Territories.

• The theme of the 5th Jan Aushadhi Day was "Jan Aushadhi – Cheap as well as Good".