Lok Sabha Question No. 269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Quality Medicines at PMBJP Kendras
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  269

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  February, 2020

## Quality Medicines at PMBJP Kendras

## 269. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Government with an objective of making available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all and if so, the impact of the PMBJP since its inception;
- (b) whether there have been any modifications in the scheme since its inception;
- (c) the steps taken to ensure quality of medicines sold through PMBJP kendras;
- (d) the number of PMBJP kendras functional in the country till date, State-wise;
- (e)  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  that  quality  generic  medicines  are  made  available  to people in the country at a much cheaper rate compared to the prevalent market rate of branded medicines;
- (f) whether the targets for opening PMBJP Kendras during the last two years have been achieved; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Government to promote the use of domestically manufactured drugs and medicines?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) Yes  Sir,  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals,  Ministry  of  Chemicals  &  Fertilizers, Government  of  India  launched  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Pariyojana (PMBJP) with an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.  Under this scheme, dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras are opened to provide generic medicines.

As on 29.01.2020, 6072 PMBJP Kendras are opened in the country. PMBJP has covered 696 districts out of 728 districts of the country.

Total sales in the financial year 2018-19 was Rs 315.70 Crore which led to total savings of approximately Rs 2000 Crore of common citizens.

(b) Yes Sir.

(c)  The  medicines  sold  under  this  scheme  are  procured  only  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 a laboratory  accredited  by  'National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration Laboratories' (NABL).  The  medicines  are  dispatched  to  PMBJP  Kendras  only  after quality tests are passed.

- (d)  As on 29.01.2020, 6072 PMBJP Kendras are opened in the country. State-wise list of PMBJP Kendras, functional across the country is enclosed as Annexure.
- (e)  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 a Jan Aushadhi Medicine is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 90% of the market price of branded medicines.
- (f)  In  the  financial  year  2017-18,  the  target  was  to  increase  the  number  of  PMBJP Kendras  to  3000,  which  was  achieved  in  December  2017.  Similarly,  the  target  to increase the number of Kendras to 5000 in financial year 2018-19 was also achieved in February, 2019.
- (g)  Bureau  of  Pharma  PSUs  of  India  (PMBJP)-  the  implementing  agency  for  the Schemeprocures medicines only from World Health Organization -Good Manufacturing  Practices  (WHO-GMP)  certified  domestic  suppliers  for  ensuring  the quality  of  the  products.  Presently,  there  are  more  than  150  WHO-GMP  certified pharmaceutical  companies  as  its  regular  vendors.  All  medicines  are  manufactured  in India.  Thus,  PMBJP  promotes  the  use  of  domestically  manufactured  drugs  and medicines.

The statement referred to in  part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 269  for 04.02.2020 raised  by  KUMARI  SHOBHA  KARANDLAJE  regarding  Quality  Medicines  at  PMBJP Kendras

| State / Union Territory-wise list of Janaushadhi Kendras functional across the country as on 29.01.2020   | State / Union Territory-wise list of Janaushadhi Kendras functional across the country as on 29.01.2020   | State / Union Territory-wise list of Janaushadhi Kendras functional across the country as on 29.01.2020   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                                   | Name of the State/Union Territory                                                                         | Number of Janaushadhi Kendras functional in the State/Union Territory                                     |
| 1                                                                                                         | Andaman & Nicobar                                                                                         | 2                                                                                                         |
| 2                                                                                                         | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                            | 189                                                                                                       |
| 3                                                                                                         | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                         | 24                                                                                                        |
| 4                                                                                                         | Assam                                                                                                     | 86                                                                                                        |
| 5                                                                                                         | Bihar                                                                                                     | 160                                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                                         | Chandigarh                                                                                                | 6                                                                                                         |
| 7                                                                                                         | Chhattisgarh                                                                                              | 211                                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                                         | Dadar & Nagar Haveli                                                                                      | 17                                                                                                        |
| 9                                                                                                         | Daman & Diu                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                         |
| 10                                                                                                        | Delhi                                                                                                     | 133                                                                                                       |
| 11                                                                                                        | Goa                                                                                                       | 8                                                                                                         |
| 12                                                                                                        | Gujarat                                                                                                   | 525                                                                                                       |
| 13                                                                                                        | Haryana                                                                                                   | 178                                                                                                       |
| 14                                                                                                        | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                          | 62                                                                                                        |
| 15                                                                                                        | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                         | 85                                                                                                        |
| 16                                                                                                        | Jharkhand                                                                                                 | 59                                                                                                        |
| 17                                                                                                        | Karnataka                                                                                                 | 610                                                                                                       |
| 18                                                                                                        | Kerala                                                                                                    | 526                                                                                                       |
| 19                                                                                                        | Ladakh                                                                                                    | 3                                                                                                         |
| 20                                                                                                        | Lakshadweep *                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                         |
| 21                                                                                                        | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                            | 169                                                                                                       |
| 22                                                                                                        | Maharashtra                                                                                               | 416                                                                                                       |
| 23                                                                                                        | Manipur                                                                                                   | 35                                                                                                        |
| 24                                                                                                        | Meghalaya                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                         |
| 25                                                                                                        | Mizoram                                                                                                   | 21                                                                                                        |
| 26                                                                                                        | Nagaland                                                                                                  | 16                                                                                                        |
| 27                                                                                                        | Odisha                                                                                                    | 197                                                                                                       |
| 28                                                                                                        | Puducherry                                                                                                | 15                                                                                                        |
| 29                                                                                                        | Punjab                                                                                                    | 200                                                                                                       |
| 30                                                                                                        | Rajasthan                                                                                                 | 134                                                                                                       |
| 31                                                                                                        | Sikkim                                                                                                    | 2                                                                                                         |
| 32                                                                                                        | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                | 604                                                                                                       |
| 33                                                                                                        | Telangana                                                                                                 | 122                                                                                                       |
| 34                                                                                                        | Tripura                                                                                                   | 25                                                                                                        |
| 35                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                             | 915                                                                                                       |
| 36                                                                                                        | Uttarakhand                                                                                               | 186                                                                                                       |
| 37                                                                                                        | West Bengal                                                                                               | 126                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                           | Total                                                                                                     | 6072                                                                                                      |

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