Lok Sabha Question No. 879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Modernization of JAKs
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Shri Dilip Saikia

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.879 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  July, 2024

## Modernization of JAKs

## 879   Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy: Shri Dilip Saikia:

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

- (a) the objectives and salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP);
- (b) the amount of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this yojana in the  State of Tamil Nadu, so far;
- (c)  the  total  number  of  Jan  Aushadhi  Kendras  (JAKs)  set  up  so  far  and  medicines  being provided by JAKs under this yojana across the country, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Assam;
- (d) whether the yojana has made significant impact to the lives of common people by providing quality medicines at an affordable price;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen and modernize the network of JAKs in the country; and
- (f) whether the Government  has  received complaints from various States regarding irregularities  at  these  Kendras  across  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (MS. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a): Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana" (PMBJP) is the flagship scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India under  which  quality  generic  medicines  are  sold  through  dedicated  outlets  namely  Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).

Objectives of the PMBJP Scheme are as under: -

-  To make available quality medicines, consumables and  surgical  items  at  affordable prices for all and reduce out of pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.
-  To popularize generic medicines among the masses and dispel the prevalent notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.
-  Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of PMBJP Kendras.

The Scheme is operated by government agencies as well as by private entrepreneurs. Salient features of the scheme are as follows:-

-  Financial assistance to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra operators and sales-based incentive.
-  Provision of special incentive for Women, Divyang, Ex-servicemen, SC/ST, Island, Himalyan and North Eastern States applicants.
-  Prices of the Jan Aushadhi medicines are generally 50%-90% less than that of branded medicines' prices which are available in the open market.
-  Medicines  are  procured  from  World  Health  Organization  -  Good  Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers only, for ensuring quality of the products.
-  Each  batch  of  drugs,  after  its  receipt  at  the  warehouses,  is  tested  at  laboratories accredited by 'National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories' (NABL).

(b):   There  is  no  State/UT-  wise  specific  budget  allocated  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.

(c):   Under PMBJP, 12,616 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) have been opened till 30.06.2024 across the country, of which 1107 Kendras have been opened in Tamil Nadu  and 150 Kendras have been opened in Assam. State/UT-wise list of PMBJKs opened across the country till 30.06.2024 is enclosed as Annexure.

The product basket of PMBJP comprises 2047 medicines and 300 surgical and medical consumables covering all major therapeutic groups such as Cardiovascular, Anti-cancer, Anitdiabetic, Anti-infectives, Anti-allergic, Gastro-intestinal medicines, Nutraceuticals, etc..

(d) & (e): The scheme has made significant impact to the lives of common people by providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices. Over the last 10 years, sale of medicines worth Rs. 5,600 crores have been made through PMBJKs, which has led to estimated savings of Rs. 30,000 crore to the citizens. Further, the scheme provides opportunities for self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings.

To strengthen and modernize the network of JAKs in the country, following steps have been taken by the Government: -

-  Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of PMBJP has recently invited online applications from all districts in the country.
-  For smooth supply and products availability, an IT-enabled end-to-end supply chain system has been designed. It comprises one central warehouse at Gurugram and four regional warehouses at Bengaluru, Chennai, Guwahati & Surat. 36 distributors have been appointed across States/UTs to strengthen the supply chain system.
-  A mobile application  ' Janaushadhi Sugam '  has  been  launched,  which  provides  a digital platform for use by general public, by the virtue of which they can avail of a host of  user-friendly  facilities  like  -  locating  a  nearby  Jan  Aushadhi  Kendra  (direction guided through Google Map), search Jan Aushadhi medicines, compare Generic vs. Branded medicines in the form of MRP savings etc.

(f):  PMBI  takes  strict  action  against  complaints  of  irregularities  or  malpractices.  After investigation, appropriate action is taken against the defaulting PMBJKs, wherever required.

Statement referred to in reply to part (c) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. NO. 879 for  answer  on  26.07.2024  raised  by  Dr.  Kalanidhi  Veeraswamy,  Shri  Dilip  Saikia regarding Modernization of JAKs

| State/UT- wise list of PMBJKs opened across the country till 30.06.2024   | State/UT- wise list of PMBJKs opened across the country till 30.06.2024   | State/UT- wise list of PMBJKs opened across the country till 30.06.2024   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                   | Name of the State/UT                                                      | Number of PMBJK opened                                                    |
| 1                                                                         | Andaman And Nicobar Islands                                               | 9                                                                         |
| 2                                                                         | Andhra Pradesh                                                            | 262                                                                       |
| 3                                                                         | Arunachal Pradesh                                                         | 32                                                                        |
| 4                                                                         | Assam                                                                     | 150                                                                       |
| 5                                                                         | Bihar                                                                     | 638                                                                       |
| 6                                                                         | Chandigarh                                                                | 12                                                                        |
| 7                                                                         | Chhattisgarh                                                              | 202                                                                       |
| 8                                                                         | Delhi                                                                     | 465                                                                       |
| 9                                                                         | Goa                                                                       | 14                                                                        |
| 10                                                                        | Gujarat                                                                   | 682                                                                       |
| 11                                                                        | Haryana                                                                   | 347                                                                       |
| 12                                                                        | Himachal Pradesh                                                          | 74                                                                        |
| 13                                                                        | Jammu And Kashmir                                                         | 299                                                                       |
| 14                                                                        | Jharkhand                                                                 | 120                                                                       |
| 15                                                                        | Karnataka                                                                 | 1225                                                                      |
| 16                                                                        | Kerala                                                                    | 1228                                                                      |
| 17                                                                        | Ladakh                                                                    | 2                                                                         |
| 18                                                                        | Lakshwadeep*                                                              | 1                                                                         |
| 19                                                                        | Madhya Pradesh                                                            | 403                                                                       |
| 20                                                                        | Maharashtra                                                               | 675                                                                       |
| 21                                                                        | Manipur                                                                   | 48                                                                        |
| 22                                                                        | Meghalaya                                                                 | 19                                                                        |
| 23                                                                        | Mizoram                                                                   | 13                                                                        |
| 24                                                                        | Nagaland                                                                  | 20                                                                        |
| 25                                                                        | Odisha                                                                    | 556                                                                       |
| 26                                                                        | Puducherry                                                                | 28                                                                        |
| 27                                                                        | Punjab                                                                    | 432                                                                       |
| 28                                                                        | Rajasthan                                                                 | 374                                                                       |
| 29                                                                        | Sikkim                                                                    | 9                                                                         |
| 30                                                                        | Tamil Nadu                                                                | 1107                                                                      |
| 31                                                                        | Telangana                                                                 | 180                                                                       |
| 32                                                                        | The Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu                                    | 37                                                                        |
| 33                                                                        | Tripura                                                                   | 26                                                                        |
| 34                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh                                                             | 2210                                                                      |
| 35                                                                        | Uttarakhand                                                               | 284                                                                       |
| 36                                                                        | West Bengal                                                               | 433                                                                       |
| Grand Total                                                               | Grand Total                                                               | 12,616                                                                    |

******