Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PM-BJP), approximately 6300 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been established to provide quality-generic medicines. Launched in 2015 by the department of pharmaceuticals of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers; Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana aims to provide affordable healthcare to all. It is one of the important government schemes and hence, becomes important for the IAS Exam.
In this article, you can read all about the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) for the UPSC civil services exam. Schemes are an important part of the UPSC syllabus and every year, many questions are directly or indirectly asked about them in the IAS prelims and mains exams.
PM Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana is an important topic for the IAS Exam. Candidates can also download the notes PDF at the end of the article.
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PMBJP – Indian Polity Notes:- Download PDF Here
Table of Contents:
| What is PMBJP? |
| PMBJP Objectives |
| PMBJP Features |
| Jan Aushadi Sugam Application |
What is PMBJP?
- In November 2008, with an objective to make available generic medicines at affordable prices to all, the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers launched the “Jan Aushadhi Scheme”.
- To reinvigorate the supply of affordable generic medicines with efficacy and quality equivalent to that of branded drugs, the scheme was revamped as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Yojana” in 2015.
- To provide further momentum to the ongoing scheme, it was again renamed as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP).
Why is Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in the news?
- Jan Aushadhi Sugam Mobile App was launched to help people located the Jan Aushadhi Kendra nearest to them. As per the government figures, 0.325 million people are using the application to avail the affordable generic medicines.
- The application has been developed by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI)
- It is available on both Android and iPhone.
- In the crisis of COVID-19 pandemic, Jan Aushadhi Kendras-associated Swatha Ke Siphai (Pharmacists) have started delivering quality generic medicines at the doorsteps of the elderly people.
- This move has been appreciated by many as this promotes the concept of social distancing in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Certain other government schemes that are important for the Civil Services Examination are mentioned in the table below:
You can know more about various other schemes by the government on the List of Government Schemes in India page linked here.
What are Jan Aushadi Kendras?
Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) are running Jan Aushadhi Kendras as a part of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. These are the centers from where quality generic medicines are made available to all. 726 districts of the country have Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
The turnover of Janaushadhi Kendras in the country touched around ₹600 crores during 2020-21. The number of kendras stood at 7,500 now. The product basket of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana(PMBJP) has evolved from a mere 131 products in 2014 to 1,449 medicines and 204 surgical items.
What is the role of BPPI in PMBJP?
The Department of Pharmaceuticals of Government of India has established a Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India to support the CPSUs to coordinate the sales, marketing, supply and procurement of the generic medicines. These medicines are distributed to healthcare seekers through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras.
The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) was appraised for ensuring the supply of medicines and other pharma products like masks to people at affordable rates during Covid-19.
PMBJP Objectives
The scheme aims at educating the masses about generic medicines and that high prices are not always synonymous with high quality. It intends to cover all therapeutic groups and create demand for generic medicines through medical practitioners.
PMBJP Features
- Under PMBJP, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) are set up across the country so as to reduce the out of pocket expenses for health care.
- The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals is involved in coordinating, procuring, supplying and marketing generic medicines through PMBJK.
- The procured generic medicines are sold at 50% to 90% lesser prices as compared to the market prices of branded medicines.
- All drugs procured under this scheme are tested for quality assurance at NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) accredited laboratories and is compliant with WHO GMP (World Health Organisation’s Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks. Government grants of up to 2.5 Lakhs are provided for setting up of PMBJKs.
- They can be set up by doctors, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups, NGOs, Charitable Societies, etc. at any suitable place or outside the hospital premises.
- The railway ministry has given in-principle approval to opening up of Jan Aushadi Kendras at railway stations and other railway establishments under PMBJP. This is a significant move, as the access to generic medicines on railway stations would boost the accessibility, affordability of essential medicines and improve the convenience for the customers.
What are Generic Medicines? Generic medicines are unbranded medicines that are equally safe and have the same efficacy as that a branded medicines in terms of their therapeutic value. The prices of generic medicines are much cheaper than their branded equivalent.
Outreach of generic medicines –
- With developments like more and more doctors prescribing generic medicines and the opening of over 6600 Janaushadhi stores across 652 districts, awareness and availability of high-quality affordable generic medicines have increased in the country. About 10-15 lakh people benefit from Janaushadhi medicines per day and the market share of generic medicines has grown over threefold from 2% to 7%in the last 3 years.
- The Janaushadhi medicines have played a big role in bringing down the out-of-pocket expenditure of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases in India. The PMBJP scheme has led to total savings of approximately Rs.1000 crores for common citizens, as these medicines are cheaper by 50% to 90% of the average market price.
- The PMBJP is also providing a good source of self-employment with self-sustainable and regular earnings.
- Jan Aushadi Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkins
- Janaushadhi Kendras which sold sanitary napkins earlier for ₹2.50, has now further reduced it to ₹1 by adapting this technology.
- These sanitary pads will be able to biodegrade after they have been discarded as soon as they come in contact with oxygen.
- A very large number of women and girls suffer as good quality sanitary pads are not available at an affordable cost. This is mostly seen in village areas and other underprivileged areas of the country.
Also, read about Ayushman Bharat Programme.
Jan Aushadi Sugam Application
The PMBJP launched a mobile application in order to help people locate the Janaushadhi Kendras in the areas around them.
Since smartphones are seen accessible to all the groups of the society, the PMBJP aims to promote their affordable healthcare scheme through available technology. Affordable healthcare seeker can easily find these PMBJK and get generic medicines at a substantially low cost compared to that of the branded OTC (over-the-counter) ones.
To know more about the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) click here.
PMBJP – Indian Polity Notes: Download PDF Here
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