(a) the existing machinery to ensure that the medicines are easily available at
the Jan Aushadhi Outlets in the country;
(b) whether the work with regard to opening of such outlets have not initiated
as per the requirement by the Government under pressure of the private players;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to(d): One of the main objectives of the Government of India, Department of
Pharmaceuticals, is to make available quality generic medicines at the affordable
prices for all in the country. Keeping this objective in view, one of the recent
measures taken by the Department of Pharmaceuticals was to launch `Jan Aushadhi
Campaign`, under which Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Stores are being opened in the
Government Hospitals to make available (unbranded) quality Generic medicines at
much affordable prices to all by way of supply of medicines through Central Pharma
Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs). In order to enable a focused and empowered
structure to implement the Jan Aushadhi campaign, a Bureau of Pharma Public Sector
Undertakings of India (BPPI) was formed under the aegis of the Department of
Pharmaceuticals. BPPI inter-alia is required to co¬ordinate with all the stake-holders
including the Health & Family Welfare Departments of the State Governments in connection
with the opening of Jan Aushadhi stores in their states and also to ensure supply of
generic medicines to all such stores through the CPSUs. So far as the process of opening
of Jan Aushadhi stores is concerned, much will depend upon the support and co¬operation
being extended by the State Governments in allotting free space in the Government Hospitals
or at any other suitable locations and also identify he agencies amongst Hospitals/NGOs/
Charity institutions/Co-operatives/Government Bodies to manage such stores. Moreover, to
take this campaign forward in order to cover each district in the country, much will depend
upon the health policies and the health programmes 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 such Jan Aushadhi Stores. In this regard, BPPI has been regularly writing to all
the State Governments, where the Jan Aushadhi campaign is yet to make inroads and based on
the positive responses being received by the BPPI, necessary steps are being taken to open
stores in such States. As such there is no pressure from the private players to stall the
process of opening of the Jan Aushadhi Stores.