Question : AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINES IN JASS

(a) whether the Government proposes to include medicines for HIV and Cancer, heart and diabetic diseases under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme (JAS);

(b) if so. the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether most of the present Jan Aushadhi Stores (JASs) are not viable due to low sale and non-availability of medicines;

(d) if so. the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard indicating the minimum estimated sale required for JASs to remain viable; and

(e) the number and location of JASs presently considerable?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) & (b); The Government proposes to include 14 Anti-cancer, 53 Cardio¬vascular and 14 Anti-diabetic medicines in the proposed list of items under the Jan Aushadhi Scheme,

(c), (d) & (e): Based on the existing sales turn-over, many of the Jan Aushadhi Stores do not seem to be viable. No study has however been carried out to estimate the minimum sale required to make a Jan Aushadhi Store viable as it would depend on various factors including the location of the Jan Aushadhi Store Steps are however being taken to make them viable. These include
(i) expanding the basket of medicines
(ii) strengthening the supply chain management for un-interrupted supply of medicines
(iii) increase in retail margin and
(iv) supply of surgical items.