PRADHAN MANTRI BHARTIYA JAN AUSHADHI KENDRAS - ECONOMY

News: Cooperative societies are opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras

 

What is in the news?

       The Government of India has decided to allow 2000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country.

 

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras:

       These are the centers from where quality generic medicines are made available to all.

       Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) supports Janaushadhi Kendras as a part of Pradhan Mantri Bharathiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, which is a flagship mission of the Ministry of Chemicals and fertilizers.

       More than 9400 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country till now.

       1800 types of medicines and 285 other medical devices are available in these Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

       Medicines at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras are available at 50% to 90% lesser rate in comparison to the branded medicines.

       The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.

 

Generic medicine:

       There is no definition of generic or branded medicines under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 made thereunder.

       However, generic medicines are generally those which contain the same amount of the same active ingredient(s) in the same dosage form and are intended to be administered by the same route of administration as that of branded medicine.