In an attempt to fulfill its commitment of opening 3000 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK) across the country by March 2017, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has signed agreements with several national NGOs, Trusts and Societies. They include the names like CSC, PCI, CNRI, Shree Tapovan Vikas Trust, Indian Red Cross Society, Lions Club, CISSIL, CMAI, IMA, Vignan Bharathi, Bharat Sevak Samaj, etc.

Besides, discussions are in progress with state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for implementation of the project by opening of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in government hospitals.

According to sources, a total of 437 Jan Aushadhi Kendras spread over 26 States/UTs are operational across the country as on September 20, 2016. The government is committed to take this number to 3000 by March 2017. As on September 20, 2016, there are 5 Jan Aushadhi stores operational in Andhra Pradesh, 1 in Assam, 2 in Arunachal Pradesh, 2 in Bihar, 4 in Chandigarh, 122 in Chhattisgarh, 12 in Delhi, 17 in Gujarat, 11 in Haryana, 13 in Himachal Pradesh, 13 in J&K, 12 in Jharkhand, 2 in Karnataka, 33 in Kerala, 13 in Madhya Pradesh, 35 in Maharashtra, 2 in Mizoram, 25 in Odisha, 23 in Punjab, 4 in Rajasthan, 7 in Tamil Nadu, 9 in Telangana, 7 in Tripura, 53 in Uttar Pradesh, 9 in Uttarakhand and 1 in West Bengal totaling to 437 PMJAKs in the country.

For opening the Jan Ashadhi Stores, the government has announced several incentives. When free space is provided by the state government, MCD, PSU, etc, an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh will be given to NGOs or agencies running the stores in government hospital premises. Under this scheme, Rs.1 lakh will be reimbursed for furniture and fixtures, another Rs.1 lakh will be given by way of free medicines in the beginning and Rs.0.5 lakh as reimbursement for computer and other miscellaneous items.

Incentives have also been extended to Jan Aushadhi Stores run by NGO/society/trust/individual entrepreneurs/pharmacist/doctor, etc other than at government hospital premises. Such stores run by private entrepreneurs/pharmacists/NGOs/charitable institutions that are linked through internet are also entitled for sales incentive of 15 per cent of monthly sales subject to ceiling of Rs.10,000 per month up to Rs.2.50 lakhs. In North East states, the incentive is 15 per cent and subject to monthly ceiling of Rs.15,000 and total limit of Rs.2.50 lakhs.

One of the major objectives of government by opening the Jan Aushadhi Kendras is to ensure availability of quality medicines at affordable prices for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged. To achieve the aforesaid objective, the DoP has been taking several regulatory and fiscal measures from time to time.