Extending full support Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJAP), all the pharmacy colleges in Kerala, including government colleges, have agreed to open Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS) in their premises to promote sale of generic versions of medicines.

These medical stores at the institutions will operate as retail outlets of generic medicines as well as training centres for student pharmacists. Fifty one stores will be opened before August 31 in these colleges.

Educational institutions have come forward to open Jan Aushadhi Stores because of the support given to the scheme by the pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The PCI is planning to open these an Aushadhi  Stores in all pharmacy colleges in the name ‘Model Pharmacies’.

The first PCI sponsored meeting in this regard was held in Kerala on May 9 at Ernakulam, in which the president of the Central council, Dr. B Suresh, explained the scheme to the institutions. Representatives from 51 institutions in Kerala, including government pharmacy colleges and M G University, were present in the meeting. According to sources, all the pharmacy colleges have given full support to PCI and to BPPI to open Jan Aushadhi Stores under their control.
 
The Model Pharmacies will be opened in a common place, within or nearby the college premises, to facilitate access to the public. Steps have been taken with the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), the nodal agency for the central scheme for supply of medicines and with the drugs control department for sale licensing.
 
Along with the promotion of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, the Central pharmacy council wants the government to get the Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2015 implemented all over India. So, the Council expects that by promoting the PMBJAP, awareness about PPR 2015 can also be given to all the states, said B Rajan, president of Kerala Pharmacy Council, who is coordinating the scheme in Kerala.
 
Prof G Radhakrishnan, principal of Fathima Matha College of Pharmacy in Kollam in Kerala, who attended the PCI sponsored meeting at Ernakulam, said the institutions can avail a loan of Rs. 2 lakhs from BPPI to start the Model Pharmacy. He said his college is planning to open the store nearby the national highway.
 
According to him, this scheme is a good step to train the upcoming pharmacists in training the pharmacy students in drug-store handling, dispensing, inventory management and patient counseling during their study.
 
Prof Radhakrishnan said, for the success of the scheme government should bring a rule empowering the pharmacists with the freedom to substitute the prescriptions given by doctors. In foreign countries such right is vested with the pharmacists.