The seven generic drug stores under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to ensure quality medicines at affordable prices, has reported an average weekly sales worth Rs 64,552 from the time of their launch, according to the latest report.

The report, published by the Dept of Pharmaceuticals lately, takes an account on the performance of the Jan Aushadhi stores for 23 consecutive weeks from November 25, 2008 to May 3, 2009. According to the report, the first Jan Aushadhi store set up in Amritsar in November 25, 2008 has reported average weekly sales of Rs 38,859 in 23 weeks. The drug store at Gurgaon set up 11 weeks ago has sold Rs 7,449 worth drugs even as the 10-week-old Mohali and Panchkula stores dispensed Rs 7,180 and Rs 9,094 worth drugs, respectively, average in a week.

The drug store in Bhatinda, Punjab, has reported sales worth Rs 20,499 average in a week from the time of its inception nine months ago and the Jaipur store recorded average sales of Rs 18,191 in five weeks of operation. However, the only drug store at New Delhi, set up through the network of Kendriya Bhandar three months ago has only sold Rs 5,378 worth drugs average in a week, reveals the report.

The sales picked up in Amritsar store in the recent weeks, informed sources close to Jan Aushadhi. The store has dispensed drugs worth Rs 65,000 in the last week alone.

The Jan Aushadhi stores sell certain products at almost 1000 per cent less than the price of the branded medicines. For instance, a strip of nimesulide tablet of 100 mg is sold in the stores for Rs 2.50 while the market price for a strip of branded product is Rs 32. Similarly, a strip of diclofenac tablet of 100 mg is sold at Rs 3.10 whereas a strip of branded product has a price tag of Rs 36.70 in the market. The price difference between these products is 1084 per cent.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals is also planning to open more unbranded generic drug stores in more locations in Delhi region and is exploring options to set up generic drug stores in premier hospitals in the country, added the officials. Earlier, the department announced that it has plans to set up at least one generic drug store in each district throughout the country.

However, the announcement of Ram Vilas Paswan, minister for chemicals and fertilizers in February 2009 about establishing 40 generic drug stores under the brand Jan Aushadhi by the end of March has not been realised.