Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

• Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has completed the target of opening of 8,300 Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) for the FY 2021-22 before end of September, 2021.
• All the districts of the country have been covered under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

About the scheme

• Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
• It aims to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendras known as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra.
• Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJPK) has been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for coordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra.
• Product basket of PMBJP presently comprises 1,451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments.
• “Janaushadhi Sugam” a mobile application for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) facilitates the public by providing a digital platform at the tip of their fingers.
• Under the Scheme, medicines are procured from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products.
• Apart from this, each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.
• Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of branded prices.

Salient Features of the Scheme

• Ensure access to quality medicines
• Extend coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person
• Create awareness about generic medicines through education and publicity so that quality is not synonymous with only high price
• A public programme involving Government, PSUs, Private Sector, NGO, Societies, Co-operative Bodies and other Institutions
• Create demand for generic medicines by improving access to better healthcare through low treatment cost and easy availability wherever needed in all therapeutic categories.

Benefits of the Jan Aushadhi campaign

• The Jan Aushadhi initiative makes available quality drugs at affordable prices through dedicated stores selling generic medicines which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• Promote greater awareness about cost effective drugs and their prescription.
• Make available unbranded quality generic medicines at affordable prices through public-private partnership.
• Encourage doctors, more specifically in government hospital to prescribe generic medicines.
• Enable substantial savings in health care more particularly in the case of poor patients and those suffering from chronic ailments requiring long periods of drug use.

Similarities of generic and brand name drugs

• A generic drugs/ medicine of a brand name drug must have the same:
• Active ingredient(s),
• Strength,
• Indications,
• Dosage form such as tablet or syrup or suspension or emulsion,
• Route of administration such as oral or IV,
• Exact manufacturing standards as the brand-name drug,
• Safe and effective as brand name drug,
• Label as the brand-name drug.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1761376

Download PDF