With the vision of providing quality Generic-Medicines to all the citizens of the country, several regular and fiscal measures have been taken time to time by the Govt. With government constant efforts and your unbreakable trust has transformed PMBJP from a concept to reality, with a chain of over 5600 JanAushadhi kendras.
India is the largest supplier of generic drugs in the world, and Indian pharmaceutical companies have been trying to push down the cost of medication in many countries across the world. Yet, the marginalized populations of India have less access to medicines owing to high costs; hence, there is an urgent need for making the cheaper generics available to Indians in the best interest of populations. To ensure every Indian has access to quality healthcare at affordable prices, an initiative with the name of Jan Aushadhi Scheme was being implemented through Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) which is a society set up by five pharma PSUs and works under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, and Government of India.
Though ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, in November 2008 across the country, the scheme didn’t take off and by 2014, only 80 store were functioning.
In 2015, the committee of secretaries set up by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to look into the health related issues which had recommended that “Jan Aushadhi Kendra” should be expanded and the budget of 2015- 16, announced a target of 3000 kendras.
For achieving the target of 3000 stores, scheme was revamped, A franchise like model was adopted and an intensive media campaign in national and regional newspapers inviting individual entrepreneurs to apply for establishing and running PMBJP kendra was undertaken. In response, the applications received were scrutinized and eligible applicants were assisted with drug license and other infrastructure facilities to open the kendras. By December 2016, target of 3000 stores was achieved and the name of the scheme renamed as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP). Till September 2019 more than 5600 PMBJP Kendra is functional across the country.
“I have monthly income of 12,000. I had to spend 8000 to 10,000 per month for my son’s health, but with PMBJP I get those medicines at 1000-1200. Now, I save 8000 to 9000 per month and can provide regular medicines to my son” shared Karni Singh Rathod, a beneficiary from Bikaner, Rajasthan
Objectives of PMBJP
• Ensure access to quality medicines for all the sections of the population especially for the poor and the deprived ones.
• Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity to counter the perception that quality is synonymous with high price only.
• Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in opening of Janaushadhi Kendra.
Milestones Achieved
• Till September, 2019 5642 JanAushadhi Kendras are functional across the nation.
• 1000 medicines and 154 surgical and consumables available in the basket
• Central Warehouse is established as per the WHO guidelines for ensuring better quality storage and logistics services.
• 3 regional warehouses have been established.
• A distribution network of 8 Chemicals & Fertilizers agents and 57 distributors spread over different states is functional.
• Implementation of IT enabled (SAP based) end-to-end Supply Chain Management System
• ‘Point of Sale’ software application at all PMBJP kendras
• 729 districts have been covered.
• A mobile application “Jan Aushadhi Sugam” to enable people to search JanAushadhi generic medicine stores has been launched
• JanAushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins are now available at Rs 4 per pack.
Prices of Jan Aushadhi Medicines as compared to branded medicine
A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of top three branded medicines. Therefore, the cost of the JanAushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 80 to 90% of the market price of branded medicines.
PMBJP has drastically brought down the prices of quality medicines and making medicines available within the reach of a large section of the population, especially the poor. For instance let’s speak about the most dangerous disease that is taking the world by storm, Cancer is the most complicated disease found in human body and delay in diagnosis can lead to depletion of health. Though there is treatment available in India for cancer but it is quite expensive with the range of medicines available in JanAushadhi it has become easy on your pockets to fight with cancer. For instance Bortezomib injection which costs around Rs. 30,000 in market is available at PMBJP kendras for only Rs. 3188/- which makes a saving of 89 per cent. The most common medicine for treating fever and body ache, Diclofenac Sodium 50mg + Serratiopeptidase 10mg Tablet oon an average costs Rs 100 for 10 tablets in the market while at BPPI it is available at just Rs 14 which makes a saving of 86 per cent when compared to the Average market price.
The endeavor of Bureau of Pharma Public Sector undertakings of India (BPPI) is to make available all therapeutic medicines at the PMBJKs. Lists of medicines with their MRPs which are presently available are given under the heading “Price List of PMBJP medicines” on the website: janaushadhi.gov.in.
Jan Aushadhi Medicines are procured on an Open tender basis from WHO (World Health Organisation), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant manufacturers only. Jan Aushadhi Medicines undergo two stage stringent quality check process at the Nationally accredited labs.
How the PMBJP is benefiting the Jan Aushadhi Kendra Owners
The Scheme is operated by government agencies as well as by private entrepreneurs,
• For PMBJP kendras run by government agencies, a financial support of Rs. 2.50 lakh is given by Department of Pharmaceuticals of which Rs 1.00 lakh is for medicine and the rest for furniture & IT infrastructure, Space is provided free of cost by concerned state government.
• PMBJP Kendra opened by the any individual entrepreneurs is extended an incentive of 15% of monthly sales up to Rs. 2.5 lakh in total. Individual SC/ST and differently abled entrepreneurs are provided medicines worth of Rs. 50,000/» in advance.
“By the year 2024, 10,000 Jan Aushadhi stores will be opened in the country. The aim is to have at least one such store at every block level,” CEO BPPI Shri Sachin Singh. Urging the people to buy the generic medicines from the nearest Jan Aushadhi stores, he said the medicines sold at these stores are cheaper and consumers must take the benefit.
“Health is one sector which is on priority of our government. Government is continuously working to provide affordable treatment and medicines at cheaper prices. Today if a patient starts his/her treatment, 70 per cent of money goes on buying medicines,” Hon’ble Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya said. He further said that the demand of generic medicine is growing and Jan Aushadhi stores across the country are serving 10-15 lakh people per day. He also urged the doctors to prescribe generic medicines and provide affordable healthcare.
(Disclaimer: The writer is Sarika Singh. Freelancer writer working with BPPI, an implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanAushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP. Views expressed are a personal opinion.)
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