# Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) (transl. Prime Minister’s Indian Public Medicine Scheme) is a campaign and public welfare scheme of the Government of India, launched in 2008 as the Jan Aushadhi Scheme by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The initiative was rebranded in 2016 as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) to expand its scope and strengthen its mission of providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the public.
The scheme's centres have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent to more expensive branded drugs in both quality and efficacy. The Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPI) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-ordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through the centres.
The scheme was initially launched by the government in 2008; and relaunched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in 2015. The campaign was undertaken through sale of generic medicines through exclusive outlets namely Jan Aushadhi Medical Store in various districts of the country. In September 2015, the 'Jan Aushadhi Scheme' (transl. Public medicine scheme) was revamped as 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana' (PMJAY). In November 2016, to give further impetus to the scheme, it was again renamed as "Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana" (PMBJP).

## Timeline

| Year | Number of Shops | Annual Sales |
| 2008 | 199 | Launched |
| 2014 | 240 | 3 CR |
| 2015–16 | Re-Launched |
| 2015–16 | 540 | 12 CR |
| 2016–17 | 960 | 33 CR |
| 2017–18 | 3193 | 140 CR |
| 2018–19 | 5440 | 315 CR |
| 2019–20 | 6306 | 433 CR |
| 2020–21 | 7557 | 665.83 CR |
| 2021–22 | 8640 | 893.56 CR |
| 2022–23 | 9182 | 1094.84 cr |
| 2023–24 | 10006 | 1470 cr (Jun 2014) |
| 2024-25 | 14080 | |
* Under this scheme, There are 2210 stores in Uttar Pradesh, 1228 stores in Kerala, 1225 stores in Karnataka and 1107 stores in Tamil Nadu and 12616 stores opened across the country till June 2024 and More than 35% of shops are run by women.

## Impact and consequences

* In 2016, 199 medicines were sold through this scheme.
* In 2017, more than 700 generic drugs for 98 types of diseases and 164 surgical items were sold.
* In March 2018, sales of girls' sanitary napkins started under the name Suvidha.
* In 2019, 900 types of generic drugs and 154 surgical products were sold.
* By 2024, 2047 types of generic drugs and more than 300 surgical products were being sold. 5 Ayurvedic products were also added to the sale.
* Through this scheme, more than 30000 crores of public money has been saved through sales of more than 5600 crores in the last 10 years.

### Suvidha Sanitary Napkins

In 2018, the "Janaushadhi Suvidha Oxy-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin" was launched. They are available for sale at ₹1 at all PMBJP Kendras across the country. To date, 19 crore napkins have been sold.

## Benefits

The Jan Aushadhi initiative makes quality drugs available at affordable prices through dedicated stores. These stores sell generic medicines, available at lower prices, but equivalent to their branded counterparts in quality and efficacy. However, poor procurement procedures have led to many drugs being unavailable at multiple stores. Some comparative prices (as of September 2013) are:
| Name of Salt | Dosage | Pack | Jan Aushadhi Price | Market Price in ₹ |
| Tab. Ciprofloxacin | 250 mg | 10 | 8 | 54.79 |
| Tab. Ciprofloxacin | 500 mg | 10 | 17 | 125.00 |
| Tab. Diclofenac | 100 mg | 10 | 6.12 | 60.40 |
| Tab. Cetrizine | 10 mg | 10 | 2.75 | 20.00 |
| Tab. Paracetamol | 500 mg | 10 | 3.03 | 09.40 |
| Tab Nimesulide | 100 mg | 10 | 4.10 | 39.67 |
| Cough Syrup | 110 ml | Liquid | 18 | 33.00 |

## Salient Features

The Scheme is operated by both government agencies and private entrepreneurs.
1. The incentive provided to the Kendra owners has been enhanced from existing ₹2.50 lakh to up to ₹5.00 lakh to be given at 15% of monthly purchases made, subject to a ceiling of ₹15,000/- per month.
2. One-time incentive of ₹2.00 lakh is to be provided for furniture, fixtures, computers and printers to the PMBJP Kendras opened in North-Eastern states, Himalayan areas, island territories and backward areas mentioned as aspirational district by NITI Aayog or opened by women entrepreneur, disabled people, SCs, STs, and ex-servicemen.
3. Prices of the Jan Aushadhi medicines are 50-90% less than that of branded medicines prices in the open market.
4. Medicines are procured only from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers to ensure the quality of the products.
5. Each batch of drugs is tested at laboratories accredited by 'National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)'.
6. Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS) can be opened by State Governments, reputed NGOs, trusts, private hospitals, charitable institutions, doctors, unemployed pharmacists or individual entrepreneurs by submitting an application. The applicants have to employ one B Pharma/D Pharma degree holder as the pharmacist in their proposed store.
7. Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPSU) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-coordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through the Jan Aushadhi Stores.
8. Over-the-counter (OTC) products can not be purchased by any individual without a prescription. A prescription from a registered medical practitioner is necessary for the purchase of scheduled drugs.
9. All therapeutic medicines and surgicals are made available at Jan Aushadhi Stores.

## Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras

Under the scheme, dedicated stores known as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras( launched as Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 2008 and later renamed to PMBJK post-2016) were established to distribute generic drugs and surgical devices. These kendras offer medicines at prices 50–90% lower than those of branded equivalents, ensuring accessibility for low-income households. As of 2023, over 9,000 PMBJP Kendras operate across India, supported by subsidies, training programs, and quality assurance protocols to maintain public trust in generic medicines. The scheme aligns with India’s healthcare goals of universal affordability and reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.