In I-Day speech, PM Modi promises to double ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ from 10,000 to 25,000

In his speech on the 77th Independence Day, Modi says Jan Aushadhi Kendras — the government’s stores for affordable generic medicines — have given ‘a new power’ to people.

Representational image of medicines | ThePrint

New Delhi: The central government is working towards increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras — government’s centres for affordable medicines — from 10,000 to 25,000, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday.

In the last independence day address before his government faces next year’s General Election, the PM said that these centres have given “a new power” to the people of India — mainly the elderly and the middle class. 

“If someone is diagnosed with diabetes, it means a monthly bill of Rs 3,000. (But) through the Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the drugs that cost Rs 100 are being offered for Rs 10-15,” Modi said. 

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a scheme launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DOP) in association with Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings, “to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through these dedicated outlets”, according to its website.

According to the details shared by the DOP in February this year, 1,759 medicines and 280 surgical instruments are sold at the centres. This list includes new medicines and nutraceutical products — substances that have physiological benefits or provide protection against chronic diseases, including protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein and immunity bars.

There are currently 9,400 such centres across India — a number the government aims to take to 10,000 by the end of the year.

In his speech, Modi also said that has so far spent Rs 70,000 crore on its national public health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat. 

First launched in September 2018, the scheme has two components — the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which provides cashless hospitalisation services of up to Rs 5 lakh to nearly 12.5 crore families, and health and wellness centres under which primary health centres are upgraded to provide holistic primary care to rural and urban population.

The prime minister also took credit for the massive vaccination drive against COVID-19, claiming that his government had achieved a tremendous feat despite major supply disruptions during the pandemic.

(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)