GUWAHATI: A Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra was inaugurated at Hengerabari in Guwahati on Monday. State Zonal Manager of Janaushadhi Kendras, Ashish Chakravarty inaugurated the centre.
Inaugurating the centre, he expressed hope that it would benefit the residents of the Hengerabari area.
The medicines will be available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through this exclusive outlet, said Rupa Ray, the owner of the Hengerabari Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra.
What is Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra?
To achieve the objective of making available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all, ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in November 2008 across the county. Now, the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ has been revisited and renamed as ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ (PMBJP). The Scheme is being implemented through a registered society namely Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) which is working under the administrative control of Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. The Product Basket of the scheme now covers more than 1250 medicines and 204 surgical & consumables in all major therapeutic categories such as Anti-infective, Anti-allergic, Anti-diabetics, Cardiovascular, Anti-cancers, Gastro-intestinal medicines, etc. As on 12.10.2020, 6634 PMBJP Kendras are functional in the country. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has marked its presence in almost every district of India by covering 732 districts out of 734.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To make available quality medicines consumables and surgical items at affordable prices for all and thereby reduce out of pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.
- To popularize generic medicines among the masses and dispel the prevalent notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.
- Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of PMBJP Kendras.
Incentive Plan
Besides providing affordable quality medicines to the masses, the scheme offers self-employment opportunities. The Department has recently revised the incentive plan for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras owners, in which the incentive provided to the Kendra owners has been enhanced from existing Rs. 2.50 lakh to up to Rs. 5.00 lakh. Further, an additional one-time incentive of Rs. 2.00 lakh has been approved for stores opened in the specified area and/ or by 2 specified categories of persons.
The details of the incentive plan are as follows:-
Normal Incentive:- The Kendras run by entrepreneurs of any class that are linked with BPPI through software will get incentive up to Rs. 5 lakh. The incentive will be given @ 15% of monthly purchase made from BPPI by these Kendra subject to a ceiling of Rs. 15,000/- per month up to the total limit of Rs. 5 lakh. It will also cover women, divyang, SC, ST & any entrepreneurs running ‘Janaushadhi Kendra’ in the aspirational district as notified by NITI Aayog & in the North-Eastern States.
This will apply to existing Kendras also whose existing limit of incentives of Rs. 2.50 lakh is fully disbursed. Further, it will also cover the Kendra opened in government premises to whom one-time grant of Rs. 2.50 lakh was disbursed. They will get an additional incentive of Rs. 2.50 lakh based on purchases made by them from BPPI as per other terms and conditions applicable to all JAKs.The one-time grant of Rs. 2.50 lakh to a Kendra opened in Government premises has been discontinued. These Kendras will also get a normal incentive as applicable to Kendras in private premises.
Additional Incentive:- For Kendras opened in backward areas mentioned as aspirational districts (backward districts) by NITI Aayog and in Himalayan, Island territories and the North-Eastern States, an amount of Rs. 2 lakh in addition to normal incentives as applicable is to be given to entrepreneurs as per followings:-
- Rs. 1.50 lakh reimbursement of furniture and fixtures
- Rs. 0.50 lakh as reimbursement for computer, internet, printer, scanner, etc.
Special Incentive:- PMBJP Kendras run by women entrepreneurs, Divyang, SC, & ST gets an amount of Rs. 2.00 lakh as a special incentive in addition to normal incentives as applicable. This is to be given to entrepreneurs as per followings:-
- Rs. 1.50 lakh reimbursement of furniture and fixtures
- Rs. 0.50 lakh as reimbursement for computer, internet, printer, scanner, etc.
Quality of Medicines under the Scheme
The medicines listed in the product list of PMBJP are procured only from the World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products. Apart from this, each batch of the drug is tested at laboratories accredited by the ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.
Savings to the common man
A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of the average price of the top three branded medicines. Therefore, the price of Jan Aushadhi Medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases, by 80% to 90% of the market price of branded medicines.
Suvidha Sanitary Napkins:-
To ensure easy availability of the menstrual health services to all women across India, on the eve of world environment day on 4th June, 2018 “Janaushadhi Suvidha Oxy-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin” was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals @ Rs. 4.00 per sanitary pad. Since inception to till 30th September, 2020 over 7.00 crore pads have been sold at PMBJKs. After the revision in the prices on 27.08.2019, over 6.00 crore pads have been sold till 30th September, 2020. Suvidha Napkins are environment friendly, as these pads are made with Oxo-biodegradable material. Under the PMBJP Scheme, these pads are being sold at Rs 1/- per pad whereas the market price of the similar Sanitary Napkins is around Rs. 3/- to Rs. 8/- per pad. The Napkins which is available for sale in more than 6500 PMBJP Kendras across the country.
JANAUSHADHI SUGAM
A mobile application “Janaushadhi Sugam” has been also launched for facilitating the general public by providing a digital platform at the tip of their fingers, by the virtue of which they can avail a host of user-friendly options like – locate nearby PMBJK (direction guided through Google Maps), search janaushadhi medicines, analyze product comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in the form of MRP & overall Savings, etc. The mobile application can be downloaded free of cost by the user from Google Play Store and Apple Store.
Implementing Agency
The Scheme is being implemented through the Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertaking of India (BPPI). It is an independent society, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and set up by the pharma PSUs with a major objective to have focused and empowered structure to implement the Janaushadhi Campaign initiated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals. The Bureau is headed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who reports to the Governing Council of the Bureau.
Governing Council (GC) for Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India-
Governing Council (GC) is the apex policy-making body consists of Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals as a Chairperson, Joint Secretary and Managing Directors of five Pharmaceuticals PSUs of this Department. Besides, CEO, BPPI and Director/DS/US of Internal Financial Division
Power and duties of Governing Council
- To prepare long term goals & objectives of the BPPI as per the directions of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.
- To approve organizational structure/changes in an organizational structure.
- To approve recruitment rules & conduct rules for employees or any amendment in that.
- To take major policy decisions about procurement, sales, relationship with other organizations.
- Creation of new posts over & above the existing sanctioned strength.
- Creation of any charge against the assets of BPPI in the form of Mortgage, Term Loan or Cash Credit or sale of the fixed assets of the BPPI.
- Appointment of CEO & Dy. CEO and their employment conditions.
- Change/Amendment in objectives of BPPI mentioned in its certificate of registration under the Societies Registration Act,1860.
- Appointment/Removal of Auditors under the Income Tax Act’1962.
- Change in Legal structure of BPPI.
- Adoption of Annual Books of Accounts before submission to Statutory Authorities.
- Approval for any change/amendment in existing incentive schemes for Kendra Owners.
- Governing Council will meet at least twice a year to review the performance of BPPI.
New initiatives
Decided to include AYUSH products, specifically 75 Ayurvedic drugs in the product basket.
- On 7th March of every year, Janaushadhi Diwas is being celebrated.
- Decided to present annual awards under various categories for encouraging various stakeholders.
- Decided to re-name the BPPI as the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and to set up a Pharma Bureau as a “Single point interface of the Department of Pharmaceuticals with Industry”.
More details about the scheme are available at the website of BPPI i.e. janaushadhi.gov.in
