By the end of this year, over 3,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras will dot the country selling generic medicines containing the same composition as that in branded drugs but costing much cheaper.
So far, under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJAP), a scheme launched in 2008, the Government has opened 1320 Jan Aushadhi stores covering 426 districts where more than 600 medicines and 154 medical devices are sold.
Claiming that the scheme is creating a silent revolution in achieving health security by providing affordable, quality medicines for all, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananthkumar said through the PMBJAP, the Government is planning to take affordable medicines to each block of the country in near future.
Talking to media on Friday on the achievements under the PMBJP here, the Minister said that pacts for opening PMBJKs have been inked by the Centre with 19 State Governments and other organisations/NGOs.
“A total of 32,225 applications have been received out of which in-principle approval has been given to 30,300 applications, which is a proof of the huge opportunity that this scheme provides for unemployed youth to get self-employed,” Kumar added.
Talking about the actual reduction in medicine prices, the Minister said that in these PMBJKs, the Government procured generic medicines are sold which are 50 per cent to 90 per cent less when compared to the branded medicines in open market.
He gave example of a few medicines such as Amlodipine 5 mg 10 Tablets which is priced at Rs 3.25 as compared to market average price of Rs 20 for branded version. Further, the product basket of PMBJP contains more than 600 medicines and 154 surgicals and consumables in all therapeutic categories viz. anti-infectives, anti-diabetics, cardiovasculars, anti-cancers, gastro-intestinal medicines, etc.
Each batch of drug supplied to PMBJKs is tested for impeccable quality assurance at NABl (National Accreditation Board laboratories) accredited laboratories and is compliant with WHO GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks, the Minister said.
Out of total 10,000 pharmaceuticals companies in India, 1400 are WHO GMP compliant and drugs under the PMBJP are procured only from these 1400 companies, he said.
Informing about the Government’s efforts towards future expansion of PMBJKs in the country, Kumar said that the Railway Ministry has come on board to open such centres in over 1000 railway stations across the country.