Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanAushadhi Pariyojana
GS PAPER II: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs), Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), distributors and other stakeholders have come together and are contributing in the fight against the current wave of Covid 19 pandemic.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
- The ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ has been revisited and renamed as ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ (PMBJP).
- The Scheme is being implemented through a registered society namely Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) which is working under the administrative control of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To make available quality medicines consumables and surgical items at affordable prices for all and thereby 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.
- Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts.
- Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of PMBJP Kendras.
Quality of Medicines under the Scheme
- The medicines listed in the product list of PMBJP are procured only from the World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products.
- Apart from this, each batch of the drug is tested at laboratories accredited by the ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.
Savings to the common man
- A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of the top three branded medicines.
- Therefore, the price of Jan Aushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 80% to 90% of the market price of branded medicines.
Suvidha Sanitary Napkins:-
- To ensure easy availability of the menstrual health services to all women across India, on the eve of world environment day on 4th June, 2018 “Janaushadhi Suvidha Oxy-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin” was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals @ Rs. 1.00 per sanitary pad.
JANAUSHADHI SUGAM
- A mobile application “Janaushadhi Sugam” has been also launched for facilitating the general public by providing a digital platform at the tip of their fingers, by the virtue of which they can avail a host of user-friendly options like - locate nearby PMBJK (direction guided through Google Maps), search janaushadhi medicines, analyze product comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in the form of MRP & overall Savings, etc.
Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertaking of India (BPPI)
- It is an independent society, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and set up by the pharma PSUs with a major objective to have focused and empowered structure to implement the Janaushadhi Campaign initiated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
- The Bureau is headed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who reports to the Governing Council of the Bureau.
Governing Council (GC) for Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India-
- Governing Council (GC) is the apex policy-making body consists of Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals as a Chairperson, Joint Secretary and Managing Directors of five Pharmaceuticals PSUs of this Department. Besides, CEO, BPPI and Director/DS/US of Internal Financial Division
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