Lok Sabha Question No. 2319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Sanatan Pandey

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2319 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras

## †2319. Shri Sanatan Pandey:

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

- (a) the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras operational in the country, State-wise;
- (b) the details of price difference between medicines sold through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and their branded alternatives;
- (c) whether many doctors do not prescribe medicines by their generic names; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) and (b):  Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, a total of 17,990 JAKs have been opened across the country as on 31.12.2025. The State-wise /Union Territory-wise number of JAKs opened across the country is at Annexure I. Under the Scheme, dedicated outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are opened across the country to provide medicines at rates that are about 50% to 80% cheaper than those of equivalent branded alternatives.
- (c)  and  (d):  Paragraph  1.5  of  the  Code  of  Medical  Ethics  in  the  Indian  Medical  Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 requires that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and that the physician  shall  ensure  that  there  is  a  rational  prescription  and  use  of  drugs.  Moreover,  the Medical  Council  of  India  has  issued  circular  date  21.04.2017  (Annexure  II)  directing  all registered medical practitioners to comply with the said requirement.

In addition to above, the scheme implementing agency i.e. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) takes steps to apprise doctors about the scheme and the benefits of generic medicines. The doctors are briefed about the quality and affordability of Janaushadhi medicines through these campaigns. Further, extensive media campaigns are carried out to create awareness among the citizens so that they can request for prescriptions of generic medicines during consultations with their physicians/doctors.

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) and (b) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. No. 2319 for answer on 13.02.2026, raised by Shri Sanatan Pandey , regarding 'Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras'

## The State-wise /Union Territory-wise number of JAKs opened as on 31.12.2025

| S. No.   | State / Union territory                      | Number of JAKs opened   |
|----------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1        | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                  | 6                       |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh                               | 272                     |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh                            | 35                      |
| 4        | Assam                                        | 176                     |
| 5        | Bihar                                        | 1058                    |
| 6        | Chandigarh                                   | 19                      |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh                                 | 345                     |
| 8        | Delhi                                        | 589                     |
| 9        | Goa                                          | 18                      |
| 10       | Gujarat                                      | 848                     |
| 11       | Haryana                                      | 474                     |
| 12       | Himachal Pradesh                             | 74                      |
| 13       | Jammu and Kashmir                            | 351                     |
| 14       | Jharkhand                                    | 166                     |
| 15       | Karnataka                                    | 1585                    |
| 16       | Kerala                                       | 1714                    |
| 17       | Ladakh                                       | 3                       |
| 18       | Lakshadweep                                  | 1                       |
| 19       | Madhya Pradesh                               | 614                     |
| 20       | Maharashtra                                  | 713                     |
| 21       | Manipur                                      | 68                      |
| 22       | Meghalaya                                    | 25                      |
| 23       | Mizoram                                      | 16                      |
| 24       | Nagaland                                     | 22                      |
| 25       | Odisha                                       | 803                     |
| 26       | Puducherry                                   | 33                      |
| 27       | Punjab                                       | 532                     |
| 28       | Rajasthan                                    | 632                     |
| 29       | Sikkim                                       | 15                      |
| 30       | Tamil Nadu                                   | 1515                    |
| 31       | Telangana                                    | 212                     |
| 32       | The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 40                      |
| 33       | Tripura                                      | 33                      |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh                                | 3805                    |
| 35       | Uttarakhand                                  | 319                     |
| 36       | West Bengal                                  | 859                     |
| Total    | Total                                        | 17,990                  |

Phone : 25367033, 25367035, 25367036

Telegrams : MEDCONCIND, New Delhi

CIR

Fax

E-mail

Website

D.thic DF A. do

: 25367033, 25367035, 25367036

: 0091-11-25367024

: pg@mciindia.org: mci@bol.net.in

: www.mciindia.org

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (c) and (d) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. No. 2319 for answer on 13.02.2026, raised by Shri Sanatan Pandey , regarding 'Medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras'

1. Dean/Principals of all the Medical Colleges,

## Medical Council of India circular date 21.04.2017

4. Health Secretary of all the States.

Madam/Sir,

dated 22.11.2012 & 18.01.2013.

- with the aforesaid provisions of the Regulations without fail.

Ethics) Regulations, 2002 in its letter and spirit.

<!-- image -->

*****

COUNCIL

7933

-

14.

HER - 8.

7$ fareil-110 077

Pocket- 14, Sector- 8,

New Delhi-110077

Dwarka Phase - 1