Lok Sabha Question No. 1371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Jan Aushadhi Stores
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL), POONAM  MAHAJAN, P.P. CHAUDHARY, SANTOSH AHLAWAT, AJAY (TENI) MISRA, KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA, SHER SINGH GHUBAYA, PREM DAS RAI, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, KIRIT SOMAIYA, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS**

**DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1371**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 28** **th** **JULY, 2015**

**JAN AUSHADHI STORES**

**1371. 	SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIK GAWALI PATIL:**

**SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:**

**SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:**

**SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:**

**SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:**

**SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:**

**SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:**

**SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA:**

**SHRI PREM DAS RAI:**

**SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:**

**SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:**

**DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:**

**SHRI ELUMALAI V.:**

**DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:**

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

(a) 	whether Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPI)/Operating Agencies have been able to exercise/control/monitor the effective functioning of Jan Aushadhi Stores (JASs) in the country;

(b)	if so, the details thereof and the reasons for non-functioning of some JASs along with the action/steps taken to make them same functional;

(c)	the details of the mechanism put in place to ensure availability of generic and other medicines at the said stores including promotion of  awareness activities undertaken under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme(JAS); and

(d)	the reasons for not opening of JASs in some States including Tamil Nadu and the accountability fixed for shortage of medicines at the said stores?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS**

**(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)**

(a) & (b): 182 Jan Aushadhi Stores were opened across 16 States/UTs, out of which 111 Jan Aushadhi Stores are in operation as on 13.07.2015.  Many of the Jan Aushadhi stores have become non-functional mainly on account of:-

i. 	Health policy of the State Governments to provide free medicines from Govt. Hospitals.

ii. 	Non prescriptions of generic medicines by Govt. doctors.

iii. 	Non viability of Jan Aushadhi stores on account of non-availability of all the medicines and poor sale from the stores.

The Government proposes to open as many Jan Aushadhi Stores as possible in various parts of the country with the co-operation of State Governments, NGOs/Charitable Societies/Institutions/Self-Help Groups experienced in welfare activities and un-employed Pharmacists/ Doctors/Registered Medical Practitioners, etc. For this, Expression of Interests are invited through open advertisement from time to time from interested parties for opening of Jan Aushadhi Stores. In addition, the steps are also being taken to open Jan Aushadhi stores in all AIIMS, prominent Hospitals, Medical Colleges under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

(c)	BPPI has initiated various steps to increase the basket of products and services with a list of 504 medicines and 161 consumables, improved supply chain and strengthening the manpower in BPPI etc.

BPPI has initiated various media and publicity campaigns around each Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS) through hoardings, bulk SMS, Mobile exhibitions, distribution of pamphlets etc.  Production of an appropriate 30 sec. TV spot (Jago Grahak Jago) is also being taken up through DAVP.  Telecast through DD and other TV Channels in regional languages for a period of 30 days, is also being planned at the time of re-launching of Jan Aushadhi Scheme. The existing toll-free help line is functioning from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 A.M. to 5.30 P.M. BPPI has taken up the matter of extending the helpline to 24 x 7 basis with the present operating agency, Consumer Online Foundation.

(d)	The main reason for not opening of JASs in some States including Tamil Nadu is the health policies of the States Government to provide free medicines from Government Hospitals. Shortage of medicines could be attributed to poor supply chain. BPPI has initiated various steps for improving the supply chain, like selection and appointment of C&F agents/Distributors in various States. The administration of the Central Warehouse in Gurgaon has been handed over to an experienced operating agency. The BPPI has also appointed nodal officers at different locations for close monitoring of the availability of medicine in JAS ensuring timely supply and distribution to C&F and JAS. IT based MIS software has been established at CWH, C&F and distributors level to keep track of availability of medicine at different levels.  The IT- based retail software has been provided to every JAS for accounting retail sale. 52 JASs out of present 111 JASs are using the software. Integration of the above two software’s is in progress.

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