Lok Sabha Question No. 4714 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Availability of Affordable Generic Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4714 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH 2026

Availability of Affordable Generic Medicines

## 4714. Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi:

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

- (a) the number of Janaushadhi Kendras functioning in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and the growth in availability of generic medicines during the last five years;
- (b)  the  financial  support  provided  and  the  supply  chain  mechanisms  created  for  ensuring uninterrupted availability of essential medicines;
- (c) the estimated savings for patients due to availability of affordable generic medicines;
- (d) the steps taken to expand the network in underserved and tribal districts; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to integrate Janaushadhi services with public hospitals for wider reach, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a): Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana scheme, a total of 18,646 JAKs are opened  till  28.02.2026  across  the  country,  of  which  727  Kendras  opened  in  the  state  of Maharashtra and 634 Kendras in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The product basket under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Yojna has 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals, medical consumables and devices, covering all major therapeutic groups, such as  cardiovascular,  anti-cancer,  anti-diabetic,  anti-infectives,  anti-allergic  and  gastro-intestinal medicines  and  nutraceuticals. Almost  all  generic  medicines  included  in  the  National  List  of Essential Medicines, except lab reagents and vaccines, are part of the product basket.

The product basket of items has grown from 1654 items to 2425 items over the past 5 years.  The financial year wise growth in product basket of PMBJP during the last five financial years is as under:-

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   | Number of Medicines   |   Total |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------------|---------|
|         1 | 2020-21          | 14s50                 |    1654 |
|         2 | 2021-22          | 1616                  |    1866 |
|         3 | 2022-23          | 1759                  |    2039 |

|   4. | 2023-24   |   2047 |   2347 |
|------|-----------|--------|--------|
|    5 | 2024-25   |   2110 |   2425 |

(b): Under the scheme, incentive to JAK owners is given at rate of 10% of monthly purchases, of Janaushadhi products purchased from Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), subject to a ceiling of ₹10,000 per month. In addition, JAK owners are also provided incentive  of  up  to  ₹10,000  per  month  for  maintaining  requisite  stock  of  200  high -demand products.

With a view to address any supply gaps and ensure smooth supply and product availability at JAKs, the following measures are in place:

- (i) An end-to-end information-technology-enabled supply chain system consisting currently of five warehouses and 41 distributors across the country, is in place.
- (ii) Since September 2024, stocking by Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) of 200 commonly used medicines, consisting of the 100 top-selling medicines in the product basket and 100 fast-selling medicines in the market, is incentivised with JAK owners being eligible to receive monthly incentive based on the stocks that they maintain of these medicines.
- (iii) In addition, with a view to ensure availability of commonly used products, 400 fastmoving  products  are  monitored  regularly  by  the  scheme  implementing  agency {Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)} and demand for the same is forecasted on an ongoing basis. Further, steps have been taken to digitise the forecasting method to augment the procurement process through automation.
- (c):  Total  savings  of  ₹  40,000  crores  by  way  of  reduced  "Out-of-Pocket  Expenditure'  on medicines on account of use of Janaushadhi Products.
- (d):    With  a  view  to  ensure  wider  availability  of  affordable  medicines  across  the  country, including underserved and tribal districts, the Government has set a target to increase in the total number of JAKs opened across the country to 25,000 by end of March 2027.
- (e): The Government has adopted a franchise-like model for opening of JAKs by inviting online applications  from  individual  entrepreneurs,  non-governmental  organisations,  societies,  trusts, firms, private companies, etc. This process facilitates opening of JAKs at private spaces as well as Government premises in a similar manner.

State and Union Territory Governments and district administrations are requested from time to time  to  create  awareness  about  the  scheme  and  to  provide  rent-free  space  for  opening  Jan Aushadhi  Kendras  (JAKs)  in  government  hospitals,  community  health  centres  and  primary health centres.

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