Lok Sabha Question No. 2675 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Prices of Medicines in JAKs
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Sanjay Seth

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2675 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 th  August, 2023

## Prices of Medicines in JAKs

## †2675. SHRI SANJAY SETH:

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

- (a) the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) opened in the country during the last two years along with the details of the target set by the Government in this regard for the next two years;

(b) the number of JAKs opened in the State of Jharkhand, district-wise;

- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure adequate availability of essential  medicines  at  Jan  Aushadhi  Kendras  so  that  people  may  not  be  compelled  to  buy expensive medicines from outside due to non-availability of medicines at these kendras;
- (d) whether there is any difference in the quality of imported medicines and generic medicines;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to ensure the availability of expensive medicines at affordable rates in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

- (a): Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) about 2,160 Pradhan Mantri  Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Kendras (PMBJKs)  have  been  opened  during  the  last  two Financial Years, i.e., 2021-22 & 2022-23, with total number of PMBJKs opened across the country as on 31.03.2023 being 9,304. A target to have 10,000 PMBJKs by March, 2024 and 10,500 PMBJKs by March, 2025 has been decided.
- (b): Till 31.07.2023, about 89 PMBJKs have been opened in the state of Jharkhand. Districtwise list is enclosed as Annexure .
- (c) and (f): The product basket under the scheme has been progressively enhanced to 1,800 medicines and 285 surgical devices covering all major therapeutic groups and their prices have been kept about 50%-90% cheaper than that of prices of branded medicines available in the open market. In order to ensure adequate availability of medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the Implementing Agency of the Scheme has set up a strong network of four warehouses and 36 distributors across the country  and  has  implemented  an  Information  Technology  (IT)  enabled  End-to-End  supply chain system and SAP based inventory management system.

(d) & (e): All medicines, whether imported or manufactured in India, need to comply with the standards  of  quality  as  prescribed  under  the  Drugs  &  Cosmetics  Act  and  Rules  framed thereunder, as amended from time to time.  Under the PMBJP Scheme, quality is ensured by procuring  the  medicines  only  from  World  Health  Organization  -  Good  Manufacturing Practices  (WHO-GMP)  certified  manufacturers.  Further,  each  batch  of  drugs  is  tested  at laboratories accredited by 'National Accreditation Board  for Testing and  Calibration Laboratories (NABL) before their dispatch to PMBJKs.

Annexure Statement referred to in reply to part (b) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q.NO. 2675 for answer on 04.08.2023 raised by SHRI SANJAY SETH regarding Prices of Medicines in JAKs

| District-wise list of PMBJKs opened in Jharkhand till 31.07.2023   | District-wise list of PMBJKs opened in Jharkhand till 31.07.2023   | District-wise list of PMBJKs opened in Jharkhand till 31.07.2023   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                            | Name of the District                                               | No. of PMBJKs Opened                                               |
| 1                                                                  | Bokaro                                                             | 13                                                                 |
| 2                                                                  | Chatra                                                             | 1                                                                  |
| 3                                                                  | Deoghar                                                            | 5                                                                  |
| 4                                                                  | Dhanbad                                                            | 5                                                                  |
| 5                                                                  | Dumka                                                              | 3                                                                  |
| 6                                                                  | East Singhbum                                                      | 5                                                                  |
| 7                                                                  | Garhwa                                                             | 3                                                                  |
| 8                                                                  | Giridih                                                            | 4                                                                  |
| 9                                                                  | Godda                                                              | 1                                                                  |
| 10                                                                 | Gumla                                                              | 1                                                                  |
| 11                                                                 | Hazaribagh                                                         | 4                                                                  |
| 12                                                                 | Jamtara                                                            | 3                                                                  |
| 13                                                                 | Khunti                                                             | 1                                                                  |
| 14                                                                 | Koderma                                                            | 2                                                                  |
| 15                                                                 | Latehar                                                            | 3                                                                  |
| 16                                                                 | Lohardaga                                                          | 1                                                                  |
| 17                                                                 | Pakur                                                              | 1                                                                  |
| 18                                                                 | Palamu                                                             | 4                                                                  |
| 19                                                                 | Ramgarh                                                            | 4                                                                  |
| 20                                                                 | Ranchi                                                             | 17                                                                 |
| 21                                                                 | Sahebganj                                                          | 1                                                                  |
| 22                                                                 | Saraikela Kharsawan                                                | 2                                                                  |
| 23                                                                 | Simdega                                                            | 2                                                                  |
| 24                                                                 | West Singhbhum                                                     | 3                                                                  |
| Total                                                              | Total                                                              | 89                                                                 |

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