Lok Sabha Question No. 485 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: PMBJP in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

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

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *485 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  APRIL, 2025

## PMBJP in Tamil Nadu

## *485. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

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

- (a) the number of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) set up in Tamil Nadu under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP);
- (b) the steps taken to increase the availability of generic medicines and medical consumables under this scheme in Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the measures adopted to raise awareness about the PMBJP outlets and affordable medicines in rural and remote areas of Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu;
- (d) the impact assessment of the scheme on the healthcare affordability of the common people, especially in low-income families in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) the plan, if any, for further expansion of PMBJKs in Tamil Nadu and any initiatives to promote quality healthcare through this scheme in the State?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  Q.  No.  485  for  answer  on 4.4.2025, raised by Shri Malaiyarasan D., regarding PMBJP in Tamil Nadu

As on 31.3.2025, the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) opened across the country under the  Pradhan  Mantri  Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Pariyojana  scheme  stood  at  15,403,  which  included 1,420 JAKs opened in the State of Tamil Nadu.

To increase  the  availability  of  generic  medicines  and  medical  consumables  under  the  scheme across the country, including the State of Tamil Nadu, the following steps have been taken:

- (i) A minimum stocking mandate has been implemented for 200 medicines consisting of the 100 top-selling medicines in the scheme product basket and 100 fast-selling medicines in the  market.  Under  the  stocking  mandate,  JAK  owners  become  eligible  for  claiming incentive based on stocks of the said 200 medicines maintained by them.
- (ii) The scheme's product basket  has been  expanded  to  2,100  types  of  medicines  and  310 surgicals, medical consumables and devices, covering all major therapeutic groups, such as  cardiovascular,  anti-cancers,  anti-diabetic,  anti-infectives,  anti-allergic  and  gastrointestinal medicines and nutraceuticals.

To spread awareness about the scheme, including in rural and remote areas in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in the country, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India,  the  scheme  implementing  agency,  regularly  undertakes  several  measures  including  the following:

- (i) Issuance of advertisements in various modes, such as the print media, radio, television, mobile application, cinema, hoardings, branding of bus queue shelters and buses, auto wrapping and television screens at Common Service Centres;
- (ii) Outreach through social media platforms, such as Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube; and
- (iii) Celebration of Jan Aushadhi Diwas on the 7 th of March every year.

While no impact study has been done specifically for the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, under the scheme, quality generic medicines are being made available through the JAK network at maximum retail prices (MRPs) that are about 50% to 80% lower than MRPs of leading branded medicines in the market. On an average, 10 to 12 lakh persons visit Jan Aushadhi Kendras daily and avail of quality medicines at affordable prices. In the last 10 years, medicines worth ₹6,975 crore in MRP terms have been sold through JAKs, resulting in estimated savings of about ₹30,000 crore to citizens in comparison to the prices of branded medicines.

The Government has set to increase the number of JAKs opened across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Government has adopted a franchisee-like model has been adopted for  the  opening  of  JAKs,  under  which  applications  are  invited  online,  through  the  website www.janaushadhi.gov.in, from individual entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, societies, trusts, firms, private companies, etc. Plans to increase the number of JAKs in rural areas of the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu. Plans to increase the number of JAKs in rural areas of the country and promote quality healthcare through the same, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, include the following:

- (i) In  addition  to  the  incentive  of  20%  of  the  monthly  purchases  made  by  JAK  owners, subject  to  a  monthly  ceiling  of  ₹20,000  and  meeting  certain  conditions  such  as

maintaining stock of specified medicines, for which all JAK owners are eligible, a onetime  incentive  of  ₹2  lakh  is  provided  to  outlets  opened  in  112  Aspirational  Districts (which include Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts in the State of Tamil Nadu), the  North-Eastern  States,  Himalayan  areas  and  Island  territories,  as  support  towards furniture, computers, refrigerators and other fixtures.

- (ii) State Governments, including the Government of Tamil Nadu, have been requested from time  to  time  to  provide  rent-free  space  for  opening  JAKs  in  government  hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres, and to create awareness about the scheme.
- (iii) To increase the number of JAKs in rural areas, the cooperative sector has been partnered with for opening JAKs through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and other cooperative societies. Till 31.3.2025, 730 JAKs have been opened in PACS and other cooperative societies across the country, including five in the State of Tamil Nadu.

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