Janaushadhi

In News: Recently, PM addressed Janaushadhi Diwas celebrations and interacted with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana through video conferencing.

  • He dedicated to the nation the 7,500th Janaushadhi Kendra at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong.

JanAushadhi Yojana

  • It was launched in 2015 to provide quality-generic medicines by the Department of pharmaceuticals of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
  • It aims to provide affordable healthcare to all by making medicine available, accessible and affordable.
  • The nodal agency is Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPI).
    • It is under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
    • It supports the CPSUs to coordinate the sales, marketing, supply and procurement of generic medicines.
    • These medicines are distributed to the healthcare seekers through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras.
  • Drugs sold under the Scheme
    • Procured generic medicines are sold at 50% to 90% lesser prices as compared to the market prices of branded medicines.
    • Quality is assured by tests at NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) accredited laboratories
    • Drug manufacturers are also compliant with WHO GMP (World Health Organisation’s Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks.
    • Government grants of up to 2.5 Lakhs are provided for setting up of PMBJKs.
    • Even, Railway ministry has given in-principle approval to the opening up of Jan Aushadi Kendras at railway stations and other railway establishments under PMBJP.
  • To reinvigorate the scheme, it was renamed as PM Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
  • Objectives/ Aims:
    • To educate the masses about the generic medicines and that high prices are not always synonymous with high quality.
    • To cover all therapeutic groups and create demand for generic medicines through medical practitioners.

Need

  • Reduce Out of Pocket Expenditure: Under PMBJP, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) are set up across the country.
    • It can bring many families out of vicious cycle of Poverty.
  • Promotion of Generic Drugs:  The Indian Pharmaceuticals has an upper hand in manufacturing Generic Drugs and hence it will boost AtmaNirbhar Bharat, Make in India.
  • Better availability and affordability: The presence of 7500 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in remote villages and Railway Stations makes it a wonderful initiative for Eradication of Health Poverty.
  • Awareness about Sanitary Pads: The JanAushadhi Kendras are also involved in making Sanitary Pads more available in India.

About Jan Aushadi Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkins

  • The sanitary napkins were earlier sold for Rs. 2.50 but now the price is further reduced to Rs. 1 due to this new technology.
  • These sanitary pads are also biodegrade.
    • Once discarded, they start decaying after coming in contact with oxygen.
  • A very large number of women and girls, especially in Village areas and from unprivileged class suffer due to lack of good quality sanitary pads.

About Jan Aushadi Sugam Application

  • The PMBJP launched a mobile application in order to help people locate the Janaushadhi Kendras in the areas around them.
  • It will deepen the reach of PMJBY and help needy to get generic medicines at a substantially low cost compared to that of the branded OTC (over-the-counter) ones.

Ayushman Bharat

  • Another scheme to reduce Out of pocket expenditure is Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
  • It has two components.
    • Increasing Primary Health Care Centres
    • Providing yearly Health Insurance upto Rs 5 lakh to 10 crore families for secondary and Tertiary health care.

Source: TH