Over 9000 Janaushadi Kendra in country

Subject: Schemes

Concept:

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday that as on January 31, the number of stores selling cheap generic medicines — Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras — stood at 9,082.
On the occasion of the Department of Pharmaceuticals marking eight years of the
Medicines available under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) are priced 50% to 90% lower than their branded variants.
The product basket of PMBJP comprises 1,759 drugs and 280 surgical instruments.
Products like protein powders are also offered.

Janaushadhi Kendra:

Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) supports Janaushadhi Kendras as a part of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
These are the centres from where quality generic medicines are made available to all.
Government grants of up to Rs. 2.5 lakhs are provided for setting up of Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras, which can be set up by doctors, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), NGOs, charitable societies, etc. at any suitable place or outside the hospital premises.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan Aushadhi Campaign.
The campaign was revamped as PMBJP in 2015-16.
Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India works under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
BPPI has also developed the Janaushadhi Sugam Application.
PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
It also intends to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.
A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of top three branded medicines.
Therefore, the price of Janaushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 90% of the market price of branded medicines.