The central government has implemented various schemes to ensure affordable healthcare, with one of the major initiatives being the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). The program enables access to medicines at discounts of up to 90%.
Dr. Arunish Chawla, secretary of the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, highlighted the significance of the Jan Aushadhi program. He noted that the government announced an ambitious plan to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 within the next three years. Currently, over 13,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational across the nation.
Ravi Dadhich, CEO of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), elaborated on the production process. India boasts approximately 10,000 manufacturing units involved in producing Janaushadhi medicines, all of which are WHO-GMP certified to ensure the highest quality. Once the medicines are produced and meet the required standards, they are sent to the national Jan Aushadhi central warehouse.
He also mentioned that similar warehouses are situated in Guwahati, Chennai, Bangalore, and Surat to cater to various regions of the country. After receiving the medicines at the central warehouse, the details are anonymized to hide the manufacturer’s identity, and the products are retested at NABL-accredited laboratories. Only after receiving certification of their quality are the medicines distributed to Jan Aushadhi centres nationwide.
As reported by bignewsnetwork.com, the medicines are offered at prices that are 50% to 90% lower than branded alternatives. Most are priced at least 50% less, with some offering discounts as high as 90%.