PMBJP - GOVERNANCE

News: Over 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened across India to make health facilities accessible to all: Bhupender Yadav

 

What's in the news?

       On the occasion of ‘the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas’, the government inaugurated ‘NaMo Day Care Centre’ and flagged off four NaMo Mobile Healthcare Units.

 

Key takeaways:

       The Department of Pharmaceuticals is celebrating Jan Aushadhi Diwas from March 1 to March 7, 2023, to create awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme.

 

Objective:

       To generate awareness about the usage of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and its salient features and achievements.

 

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

       The scheme aims to open centres from where quality generic medicines, consumables and surgical items are available at affordable prices for all, so as to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.

 

Ministry: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

 

Implementation Agency:

       Pharma & Medical Bureau of India (PMBI) (erstwhile Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI)).

       It has also developed the Janaushadhi Sugam Application.

 

Current status: As of January 31, 2023, the number of stores has increased to 9082.

 

Target: To increase the number of Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,000 by the end of December 2023.

 

How is the price of medicine determined in the PMBJKs?

       A medicine is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of the top three brands of branded medicines.

       Thus, the prices of Jan Aushadhi Medicines are cheaper by at least 50% and in some cases, by 80% to 90% of the market price of the branded medicines.

       Under the Scheme, medicines are procured from World Health Organization - Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products.