With a vision to provide quality medicines at an affordable rate to the common man especially the poor, the Central government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,000 by March 2024, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said on Wednesday (6 October).

The ministry said that as on Tuesday (5 October), the number of Jan Aushadi stores has increased to 8,355.

These kendras will ensure easy access of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country, it added.

The ministry said that the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), had completed the target of opening of 8,300 Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) for the FY 2021-22 before end of September 2021.

All the districts of the country have been covered under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the ministry said.

Further, effective IT-enabled logistics and supply-chain systems for ensuring real-time distribution of medicines at all outlets have also been introduced, it added.

According to the ministry, the product basket of PMBJP presently comprises 1,451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments.

Further, new medicines and nutraceutical products like glucometer, protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, etc. have been launched, the ministry said.

At present, three warehouses of PMBJP are functional at Gurugram, Chennai and Guwahati and a fourth one is under construction at Surat.

Further, 37 distributors have been appointed across the country to support the supply of medicines to remote and rural areas, it added.

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

Apart from this, each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL).

Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.

Further, medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50 per cent-90 per cent less than that of branded prices.

During the financial year (2020-21), PMBJP has achieved sales of Rs 665.83 crore (at MRP), leading to savings of approximately Rs 4,000 crore of the common citizens of the country, the ministry said.