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.

References

1. PIB| Achievements of Janaushadhi Pariyojana
2. Janaushadhi.Gov.in| PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana