Tuesday 5 March 2013

Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Stores in Remote Areas


In order to provide relief to the common man in the area of healthcare, a countrywide campaign, namely, ‘JanAushadhi Campaign’ was initiated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers in collaboration with the State Governments. Under this campaign, Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Stores are opened in the Government Hospitals with supply of medicines through the Central Pharma Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) to make available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has informed that it is intended to open at least one Jan Aushadhi Store in every district of the country including Andhra Pradesh, followed by at least five stores in each district so as to have 3150 stores by the end of the 12th plan wherever the State Governments extend their support and cooperation in allotting the space in the Government Hospitals or at any other suitable locations and also identify the agencies amongst Hospitals / NGOs / Charitable / Cooperative / Government Bodies to manage such stores. Till 31.01.2013, 147 Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened in various part of the country, as per the following details:

Name of the States/UTs
No. of Jan Aushadhi Stores
Andhra Pradesh
3*
Punjab
23**
Delhi
3
Haryana
4***
Rajasthan
53@
Odisha
17
West Bengal
3#
Uttarakhand
2
Chandigarh
3
Jammu & Kashmir
3
Himachal Pradesh
10
Jharkhand
23
Total
147


* In Andhra Pradesh, two stores are non-functional due to administrative reasons

**In Punjab, two stores are non-functional due to administrative reasons

***In Haryana, 3 stores are non-functional due to administrative reasons
@In Rajasthan, as per the latest Health Policy of the Government of Rajasthan, free medicines are being given to all the in-patients as well as out-patients visiting the State Government Hospitals for treatment w.e.f. 2nd October, 2011. Accordingly, the State Government has since converted all the existing 53 JASs in the State, besides opening new outlets for free distribution centers for medicines. The matter regarding functioning of JASs in the State has been taken up with the MD, Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation, Government of Rajasthan.

#In West Bengal, the State Government has directed the operating agencies to close the Jan Aushadhi sales from there as they are contemplating to run fair price stores for sale of medicines from such outlets.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has further informed that efforts are on to open more stores in the country, including remote areas like North Eastern States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, etc. with the collaboration of State Governments. However, much depends upon the prevailing health policy or the health programme being followed by the respective State Governments, as to whether the medicines in the hospitals are given completely free or partially free etc. in order to determine the feasibility and the viability for opening/managing of such stores and also the extent of support and cooperation the State Governments provide in allotting the space in more number of places including identification of the agencies to manage such stores, besides ensuring the cooperation of the Government Doctors in prescribing generic medicines.

An expenditure of Rs.1,86,80,441/- as on 31.01.2013 towards payment of one time grant of Rs.2.50 lakh per JanAushadhi Store on creation of infrastructural facilities and start up cost for such stores has been incurred by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on March 5, 2013.


1 comment:

Arasavilli students voluntary organisation said...

Already the government gives huge budget to health and medicine.. Additional assistance is also useful to poor people by introducing this type of schemes..un-fortunately if government of India gives budget it is not completely useful to people because at the root level there is quality in medicine supply..only the medicines supply information is permitted to records only.. finally the people depends on other souces

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