The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), which is looking after the operations of the Jan Aushadhi under the Pharmaceutical Department, is planning to fully computerise the generic outlets with web enabled integrated software application to ensure better services to the consumers and carry out stock management and distribution of drugs in a more effective manner.

Currently about 55 stores have been opened in the states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh etc. About 20 stores are planned in the next few months. Through the web enabled/based software, the plan is to automate the entire network of Jan Aushadhi Stores (existing and future expansions), providing complete visibility and operational control at the central office, according to the sources. BPPI has already invited tenders from the interested service providers in this regard.

With the proposed single integrated application capable of handling the needs of the Jan Aushadhi network, the software with latest cutting-edge technologies is expected to cover the entire gamut of operations of the outlets. Among other features, the software is expected to make indent management and warehouse management more effective. It will be able to track the stock position in all the stores from a single point so that drugs could be made available as per the demand in different stores.

It will cover centralized management of masters, products, taxes, categorization, order and purchase management, stock levels, account payables, customer reminders, tracking of customer purchases, SMS on customer birthdays, loyalty programmes, aspects of statutory compliance, and enterprise reports at the store, state and national level.

Meanwhile, the DoP has identified about 70 more places for opening the outlets in the coming months. As many as 26 stores are to be opened in Rajasthan itself, with the State authorities deciding to give maximum push to the programme. Himachal Pradesh has identified 12 places to open the stories while Orissa will open eight and Uttarakhand five. Karnataka will be opening six stores while Chandigarh has decided to add four more outlets.