To increase availability of generic medicines at affordable prices and to promote Jan Aushadhi Scheme, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) encourages colleges to establish Jan Aushadhi stores in their premises. This will serve both the purpose of requirement of quality medicine at affordable price as well as the requirement of practical training to the student pharmacists under the provisions of 'the education regulations, 1991' and 'the bachelor of pharmacy course regulation, 2014'.
The PCI will extend support by way of pursuance with regulatory bodies like BPPI and state drug control departments for the issuance of licenses to the colleges. The council has also directed the state pharmacy council to provide guidance to the colleges in their respective states.
Dr B Suresh, president of PCI says, “PCI is encouraging pharmacy colleges to establish Jan Aushadhi store in their premises. After issuing the circular of this initiative by the council, many institutes have shown interest in the opening the store. With this step around 1000 more Jan Aushadhi store will come-up by March 2017. We have also asked the state pharmacy council to take-up the matter of registration and even they can open a store in the council’s premises”
The council is working with ministry of chemical and fertilizers to promote Jan Aushadhi Scheme by establishing Jan Aushadhi stores in approved pharma colleges across the country. There is a statutory requirement for students to undergo practical training in pharmacy practice in hospital or community pharmacy. Hence by becoming a partner to Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Yojna (PMJAY), pharmacy institutions will fulfill the requirement.
The Jan Aushadhi Scheme is a direct market intervention scheme of the department of pharmaceuticals, with an aim to make available quality generic medicines to all at affordable prices through Jan Aushadhi Store (JAS) opened in each district of the states. It was first launched in 2008 to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the economically weaker sections of the society. The first JAS was opened at Amritsar Civil Hospital in 2008.