With the State governments still remaining less enthusiastic about the idea of Jan Aushadhi programme, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is planning an aggressive publicity campaign and is seeking Rs.40 crore for the purpose from the Planning Commission.
The DoP is in talks with the Department of Consumer Affairs to make people aware of the generic drugs and their prices in the Jan Aushadhi stores. The fresh campaign, being planned, will be spread in print and electronic media. It would also give emphasis to prompt the doctors to prescribe generic drugs.
Till date, 102 Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened in 10 States (Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Orissa, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Union territories of Chandigarh and Delhi) and the Bureau of Pharma PSUS of India (BPPI) is monitoring the opening and the promotion of the outlets.
Detailing on the efforts on the promotional front so far, sources in the Department said a joint publicity programme mounted by the DoP and the Department of Consumer Affairs is continuing to popularise the stores. Apart from this, State Governments and the agencies running the stores are also assisted to popularise the stores besides BPPI running of a Toll Free Helpline on Jan Aushadhi Campaign so that the benefit of the programme reaches the common man.
“Apart from this, Rs.25 lakh have been provided to the Government of Punjab to mount publicity campaign on Jan Aushadhi programmes. Organizing Health Camps are also covered for spreading of awareness of the Jan Aushadhi Scheme and its advantages amongst the general public. In order to promote Jan Aushadhi campaign, BPPI have also participated in the India Pharma Summit, 2009 held on 30 November 2009 followed by an Exhibition of Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Ingredients India (CPHL India) from 1 to 3 December 2009 in Mumbai,” sources said.
On the direction of the DoP, in the case of Orissa, a Jan Aushahdi Stall was established in collaboration with state Red Cross Society in the exhibition organised by Press Information Bureau on Public information Campaign on Bharat Nirman at Bhubaneswar from 27 -31 March, 2010 besides undertaking publicity on Jan Aushadhi campaign. BPPI assisted in putting up an Exhibition Stall on Jan Aushadhi during the Rath Yatra at Puri from 13 to 21 July 2010 in the Social Service Camp organized by Indian Red Cross Society, Orissa State Branch.
Besides this, BPPI has also participated in Public Information Campaign organized by Press Information Bureau in Balasore, Orissa from 26 February 2011 to 28 February 2011 by way of establishing a Jan Aushadhi stall in associating with state Red Cross Society. In West Bengal, for making the Jan Aushadhi Scheme successful, BPPI assisted Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited to install a stall in 34th Sunderban Mela 2011 from 3 January 2011 to 12 January 2011 at South 24 Parganas to promote Jan Aushadhi campaign, sources said.