The Union government is gearing up to establish 3,000 Jan Aushadhi stores across the country over the next one year from the current 430 outlets. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is now making another attempt to persuade the Union ministry of health to recommend the benefits of prescribing of generic equivalent drugs.
“Plans are in place to work towards setting up another 2,570 stores taking the total number of Jan Aushadi outlets to 3,000 from the present 430 outlets,” DoP secretary Sudhanshu Pant said during his recent visit to Bengaluru.
“We are working to ensure that the Jan Aushadhi stores will be able to market substituted generics drugs. Currently, the rule calls to prescribe only branded generic drugs and there is no permit to substitute these products. The drugs can be tested for its safety and efficacy at the government identified drug test labs before they are made available at these outlets. We see the need for patients to access affordable medicine which are efficacious too. Therefore, we are now keen that generic drug alternatives permitted to be sold at the existing 430 Jan Aushadi stores in the country,” Pant further said.
The branded generic medicines are sold at significantly higher prices compared to the non-branded generic equivalents, even though these are similar in therapeutic value. The Jan Aushadhi stores were set up across various districts of the country to provide patients the much needed affordable and beneficial medications. In fact the first store was opened in 2010.
It was the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) which was identified as the implementation agency for Jan Aushadhi stores formed under the DoP. The objective is to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices for the poor patients in the country. These cover from antibiotics to anti-pyretics and life style disorder drugs covering diabetes, cardiovascular among others. The procurement of medicines was from the central pharma PSUs and private sectors. The government has been conducting a number of awareness programs for the promotion of the Jan Aushadhi scheme for the benefit of the economically backward population.
Further, the government is also looking at unemployed pharmacists to set up Jan Aushadhi stores. The prospective applicants will need to enter into agreement with the government before commencing operations of Jan Aushadhi outlets, stated officials.
In Karnataka, there was four proposals made by individuals to set up Jan Aushadhi stores and the state drugs controller will issue the licenses once the approval processes are complete.