In an initiative to make generic drugs available at affordable price to the common people, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is planning to make 504 generic drugs, including 105 available at present, available under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme through retail drug stores across the country.  These drugs would range from antibiotics, anti-cardiac, anti-diabetic, anti-infective and gastro-intestinal drugs in six therapeutic segments.

The DoP, the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme, recently held meetings with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Medical Council of India (MCI) to boost generic drugs which are affordable and efficacious.

As part of the initiative, the government is also planning to involve private players to revive the fledgling Jan Aushadhi scheme which is completely dependent on a handful of public sector units (PSUs) for drug supply that makes it vulnerable to frequent stock outs. However, some experts beg to differ saying maintaining an efficient supply chain to distribute the generic drugs at such a large-scale seamlessly will also pose a challenge under the Jan Aushadhi brand considering the fact that only over 80 Jan Aushadi stores are functional as of today.

Experts also pinpoint that getting doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names rather than brand names is also critical for the revival of Jan Aushadhi scheme. Currently, chemists are not legally allowed to substitute unbranded generics in place of prescribed branded generics.

According to sources, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) will be supplying generic drugs with effect from April, 2015 which currently coordinates with 84 Jan Aushadhi stores in the country. As part of this programme, drugs will also be available at retail drug stores which until now were only available at Jan Aushadhi stores.

Established on December 1, 2008 and comprising all the Pharma CPSUs under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, BPPI would ensure that quality and efficacious drugs are supplied which according to sources would cost 20 per cent to 70 per cent cheaper than available branded generics.

A government commissioned consultancy, tasked with preparing a new viable business plan for the project in 2013, estimated that of the 149 Jan Aushadhi shops set up since its inception in 2008, only 84 are functional. Also, out of 319, only 85 drugs across 11 therapeutic groups are being supplied to these stores.

The Bureau is also accountable to bring about effective collaboration and cooperation in furthering the working and resources of these organisations. It also coordinate supply of medicines in the State from their own plants, other Pharma PSUs of Central and State Governments and Private Sector and also with with Hospitals in preparation of formulary.

Under the mandate, BPPI is required to coordinate with States to open stores, monitor functioning of the stores, fixing Maximum Retail Prices (including fixing common prices, in consultation with NPPA for the medicines manufactured by the CPSUs for Jan Aushadhi supply) and also suggest/ approve common super stockiest to ensure a proper supply chain mechanism.