Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Friday, said that the Delhi government will open Janaushadhi Kendras across the national Capital, which would provide people of Delhi with medicines at lowest prices, as well as sanitary napkins to women at just `1.
Congratulating people on the occasion of the seventh Janaushadhi Diwas, Gupta said, “The governments before us did not implement the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. Maybe because the word ‘Pradhan Mantri’ in the scheme. We will open Janaushadhi Kendras everywhere. We will follow the decision of the High Court, which says that there should be a Janaushadhi Kendra within 500 meters of every hospital.”
Gupta also visited the Janaushadhi Kendra in Ashok Vihar early morning. She emphasised that “this scheme will particularly benefit economically weaker sections, as it provides medicines for serious illnesses like cancer and diabetes at much lower prices”. Additionally, sanitary napkins for women will be available at just `1, promoting hygiene and better health for women.
The Chief Minister further announced that, in compliance with Delhi High Court directives, the Delhi government will ensure that at least one Jan Aushadhi Kendra is established within a 500-meter radius of every government hospital. This Jan Aushadhi Kendra provides WHO certified medicines and medical items to the public at 50-70 per cent lower price compared to branded medicines. A lot of medicines are available at a lower price up to 90 per cent.
In addition, these Jan Aushadhi Kendras will assist government hospitals by facilitating local medicine purchases in case of emergencies.
New Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also lauded the ‘Jan Aushadhi’ initiative as a visionary project that was given a major impetus under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP MP emphasised that the ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ have not only significantly reduced the cost of medicines for the common people but have also played a crucial role in boosting employment opportunities across the country, particularly through their franchise model. Swaraj was speaking from a ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendra’ in Karol Bagh, where she highlighted the impressive savings that customers experience.
“For example, medicines for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Here, the medicines are available at up to 91 per cent lower prices compared to conventional chemists. Even multivitamins and calcium supplements, which are essential for everyone, are 94 per cent cheaper. The ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendra’ offers more than 2,000 affordable medicines, as well as over 300 surgical products,” she said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also spent Jan Aushadhi Diwas among the people who came to Jan Aushadhi Kendra on Friday. He talked to the people who came to these centers. Everyone appeared satisfied with the cheap and quality medicines available at these centers. Bidhuri went to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra located in the AIIMS campus and met the people there. Generic medicines for almost all diseases are available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras. People described this scheme of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as very beneficial for the general public.
Every year, March 7 is celebrated as ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas,’ a day dedicated to raising awareness about the ‘Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana ‘ and promoting the use of generic medicines. The celebrations are part of a week-long campaign that runs from March 1 to 7, with various events organised across the country.
