News Brief
Rs 30,000 Crore Saved Via Jan Aushadhi Kendras In Last 10 Years; Over 15,000 Centres Opened, Nearly 10,000 More Planned: Government
PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras
The Government has successfully achieved its target of establishing 15,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) two months ahead of the March 2025 deadline.
A total of 15,057 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational across the country as of 28 February, the Parliament was informed on Friday (28 March).
"The Government set a target to open 15,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) across the country by 31.3.2025. The target was achieved in January 2025. As on 28.2.2025, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana scheme, a total of 15,057 JAKs have been opened across the country," Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Nadda added that The government has now set a target to increase the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 20,000 by March 2026 and to 25,000 by March 2027.
According to the minister, the scheme’s medicine basket now comprises 2,047 formulations and 300 surgical products, covering essential therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, diabetes, anti-infectives, oncology, and gastrointestinal care.
Products are priced 50 per cent to 80 per cent lower than their branded counterparts, though they are sold at fixed MRPs nationwide with no additional discounts.
"The scheme has the target to increase its product basket to 2,100 medicines and 310 surgicals, medical consumables and devices by 31.3.2025," the minister added.
A network of 36 distributors and an incentive-linked stocking system ensures consistent availability of fast-moving and essential products.
According to the minister, medicines worth Rs 1,767.18 crore have been sold in the financial year 2024-25 till 28 February, representing an increase of 33 per cent over the sales of medicines worth Rs 1,327 crore.
"The Government has adopted a franchise-like model for opening of JAKs by inviting online applications from individual entrepreneurs, NGOs, societies, trusts, firms, private companies, etc. While opening JAKs, a minimum distance of 1 km is ordinarily maintained between two JAKs," the minister said.
This process facilitates opening of JAKs at the block and district levels, for wider outreach, the minister added.
According to the minister, In the last 10 years, medicines worth Rs 6,975 crore in MRP terms have been sold through JAKs, resulting in estimated savings of about Rs 30,000 crore to citizens in comparison to the prices of branded medicines.
The minister further said that On an average, 10 to 12 lakh persons visit JAKs daily and avail of quality medicines at affordable prices.
