DoP to conduct series of awareness programs to celebrate 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas on March 7

New Delhi, March 1, 2023 :

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) will be celebrating the fifth Jan Aushadhi Diwas on March 7, 2023 with events planned in different cities starting from March 1 to 7, 2023 focusing on awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme.

Seminars, programmes for children, women and NGO’s, heritage walks, health camps and many other activities engaging Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra owners, beneficiaries, State/UT officials, public representatives, doctors, health workers, nurses, pharmacists and Jan Aushadhi Mitras will be organised at different locations across the country covering all States and Union Territories, said the Department.

This will generate awareness about the usages of generic medicines and benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and its salient features and achievements.

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) will be spearheading the event with an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals & fertilizers, Government of India in November, 2008.

As on January 31, 2023, the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) has increased to 9082. Under the PMBJP, 743 districts out of 764 districts of the nation have been covered.

The Government has set a target to increase the number of PMBJKs to 10,000 by the end of December 2023. Product basket of PMBJP comprises 1,759 drugs and 280 surgical instruments. Further, new medicines and nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, sanitizer, masks, glucometer, oximeter, etc. have been also launched, said the Department.

Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of branded prices. During the financial year (2021-22), PMBJP has achieved sales of Rs. 893.56 crore (at MRP). This has led to savings of approximately Rs. 5,360 crore of the common citizens of the country.

In the current financial year i.e. 2022-23 till February 15, 2023, PMBI, the implementing agency of PMBJP has made sales of more than Rs. 1,000 crore which has further led to savings of approximately Rs. 6,000 crore to the citizens. At present three IT enabled warehouses of PMBJP are functional at Gurugram, Chennai & Guwahati and Surat. Further, 36 distributors have been appointed across the country to support the supply of medicines to remote and rural areas.

The initiative has saved more than Rs. 20,000 crore to the citizens on the cost of medicines, it added. Pharmabiz