Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

Why in News?

Recently, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) reached a significant milestone, with Janaushadhi medicines worth Rs. 1,000 crore sold in the year 2024-25 till October 2024.

What is Janaushadhi Pariyojana?

It is a campaign launched in 2016, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses making essential healthcare accessible to all citizens.
Launched by – Department of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals and fertilisers in association with Central Pharma Undertakings.
Objectives – Ensuring access to quality medicines for all sections of the population especially the poor and the deprived ones.
Creating awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity to counter the perception that quality is synonymous with high price only.
Encouraging health care professional particularly in those government hospitals, to prescribe generic alternatives, thereby promoting cost-effective treatment options.
Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in opening PMBJP Kendra

Generic drugs are marketed under a non-proprietary or approved name rather than a proprietary or brand name. Generic drugs are equally effective and inexpensive compared to their branded counterparts.

Implementation – It is implemented by Pharma & Medical Bureau of India (PMBI), a society registered under the Societies Registration Act.

Pharma & Medical Bureau of India (PMBI) was earlier called as Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI).

Operation – It is operated by government agencies as well as by private entrepreneurs.

What are its salient features?

Janaushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are accessible points for quality healthcare, providing a friendly environment where individuals can find the medications they need.

Incentives to the Kendra owners – Rs. 5.00 lakh to be given @ 15% of monthly purchases made, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 15,000/- per month.
One-time incentive – Rs. 2.00 lakh is to be provided for furniture & fixtures and computer & printers to the PMBJP Kendras opened in North-Eastern States, Himalayan areas, Island territories and backward areas mentioned as aspirational district by NITI Aayog.
It is also provided if it is opened by women entrepreneur, Divyang, SCs & STs and Ex-servicemen.
Prices of the medicines – They are 50%-90% less than that of branded medicines prices in the open market.
Quality procurement – They are procured only from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products.
Quality assurances – Each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by 'National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)' for ensuring best quality.
Access to sanitary napkins - Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkins were launched in 2019.
They are made available at Rs.1/ per pad only in more than 12600 PMBJP Kendras across the country.
Jan Aushadhi Sugam – It is a mobile application launched in 2019 for various purposes like
- To locate nearby Jan Aushadhi Kendra through Google map
- To search Jan Aushadhi generic medicines
- To compare prices of Generic v/s Branded medicines in terms of MRP, overall savings, etc.

What are its impacts?

Promotes health equity – It ensures essential healthcare products are available, accessible and affordable to everyone, especially the marginalized.
Savings to the citizens - It is estimated to have saved approximately of Rs. 30,000 crores of citizens in the past 10 years.
It has saved about Rs. 5000 crore in the current year (FY 2024-25)
Greater coverage - The number of kendras has grown to more than 14,000 and all districts have been covered.
Extensive product basket – It includes 2047 medicines and 300 surgical devices, catering to various therapeutic groups.
Nutrition security - Nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based food supplements and glucometer, etc. have been launched.
Generates employment – It is also providing a good source of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings.
The scheme is truly doing justice to its tagline “Jan Aushadhi - Seva bhi, Rozgar bhi”.

What are its significant milestones?

Growth in number of JAKs – Kendras increased from just 80 in 2014 to more than 14,000 today, an astonishing increase of over 170 times in a decade.
Growth in sales – Medicines worth Rs. 1,000 crore sold by October 2024, two months earlier than in the previous year.
It also achieved a noteworthy sales figure of Rs. 200 Crores in September 2024 alone
Increased demand – Nearly 1 million people visiting these user-friendly Kendras daily.
Future prospects – It plans to establish 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras throughout India in the next two years.

What lies ahead?

Organise workshops across India with Kendra owners, doctors and various important dignitaries.
Embrace the integrated approach for spreading awareness about PMBJP with State Governments.

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