Govt incentives spur Karnataka to second spot in number of Jan AushadiKendras

Bengaluru, November 15, 2022:

Karnataka stands second in the country in the number of Jan AushadiKendras which sell generic drugs at subsidized rates. The key factors that have driven the state to the second position is the ample support from the central and state governments.

These stores are set up under the PradhanMantriBhartiyaJanaushadhiPariyojana (PMBJP) which requires to strictly adhere to the regulations of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.

According to the Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, major efforts are underway to open more such stores. The state is second after Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of Jan AushadiKendras in the country. Kerala stands third in such stores.

This according to Jan Aushadi outlet owners goes by the demand for high quality drugs and affordable cost besides availability of wide range of medicines and home care testing devices among other consumables in patient care like pediatric and adult diapers.

The state today has 1,052 stores across its 30 districts which sell generic medicines at subsidized rates. One of the key reasons for Karnataka establishing so many Jan AushadiKendras is the fact that the Karnataka government offers several incentives to set up the stores. These include free premises, waiver of power and water supply charges besides Rs. 5 lakh that is provided by the Centre for each store.

Further, Karnataka government gives Rs. 15,000 per month for purchase of drugs and whatever is unsold can be returned to the government, noted Prof R Raveendra, department of pharmaceutical chemistry, Cauvery College of Pharmacy, Mysuru.

In fact, Prof Raveendra sees pharmacy store entrepreneurship as a promising career option for the qualified diploma in pharmacy (Pharm D) candidates after registering themselves in the state pharmacy council which is mandatory.

The Karnataka drugs control department has also pitched in their efforts by ensuring speedy approvals of applications for setting up the new Jan Aushadi stores and conducting tests for the drugs sold at the premises to ensure that they are of standard quality, noted Prof. Raveendra.

Since February this year, Karnataka has opened 300 stores and plans to seek the approval from the Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) to open 500 more, including 40 at Government hospitals, said Sudhakar, who is a medical doctor by professional training.

Of the 1,052 Jan AushadiKendras in the state, 200 have come up in Government Hospitals across the state.

Speaking about the plans to set up more Jan AuushadiKendras in the state, the health minister Dr Sudhakar said the state government has drawn up plans to open more Jan AushadiKendras in villages to enable access to inexpensive and standard drugs to the state’s rural population, the minister said.

On the number of new Jan AushadiKendras the Karnataka Government plans to set up, the minister said that overall, around 500 more stores will be set up across the state.

The Minister said these Jan AushadiKendras stock a total of 1,451 different drugs, 240 surgery tools and expensive cancer drugs to provide access to drugs at subsidized rates to people across the state.

With these incentives, many pharmacy graduates had expressed interest in opening the Kendras, and that 160 sq. ft of space would be given for free in government institutions, said state health minister Sudhakar.

In an earlier interaction with Pharmabiz, AshokswamyHeroor, president, Karnataka State Registered Pharmacists Association said that Jan Aushadi stores are dispensing generic drugs which are affordable and of high quality. These stores are being frequented not just by the general population but also the economically weaker sections. Hence, there is every need to ensure that only qualified and registered pharmacists are issued licenses by the state drugs control department.PharmaBiz