Akash Sinha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has given a new lease of life to a sickly scheme from the second term
of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition
government.
Few had heard of Jan Aushadhi
Scheme before September 2015, when the Modi-led government renamed it
first as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. It was renamed again in
November 2016 as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
(PMBJP). The UPA II scheme, which aims to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices in place of branded medicines, not only got a new name but also a big push.
The scheme has drastically brought down
medicine prices. For example, anti-diabetic drug glimepiride is priced
at Rs 4.02 under the government scheme while it costs Rs 54 in market.
The Jan Aushadi Scheme saw only 80 stores till
March 31, 2014. Under the NDA rule, the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras
have jumped manifold. As per latest data, 2,747 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are
operational across the country. Though short of the target to open
3,000 stores by March 2017, it is still a big leap compared to the
growth during the previous government.
How Modi turned the scheme around
Medicines: From 2014 to 2017, 636 medicines
and 132 surgical/consumable items have been brought under the scheme as
compared to nearly 100 from 2008 to 2014 under the UPA II government.
These drugs are for acute as well as chronic diseases such as
hypertension, diabetes, cancer and asthma.
Therapeutic basket: The therapeutic category
basket of the scheme was incomplete earlier. Now the basket covers all
23 major therapeutic categories such as anti-infective, anti-diabetics,
cardiovascular, anti-cancer and gastro-intestinal.
Suppliers: Till 2014, only PSUs had been
assigned to make and supply drugs. But now 125 suppliers, certified
under the WHO's Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), are also part of the
scheme.
Quality control: Bureau of Pharma
PSUs of India (BPPI) tests the medicines procured from the suppliers
for its quality. "Each batch of each drug is tested at BPPI’s empanelled
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
(NABL) accredited laboratories in order to ensure quality, safety and
efficacy of medicines and conformation with required standards," said
the BPPI.
Turnover: The annual turnover of PMBJP has
also increased to Rs 73.66 crore in 2017-18 (as on October 30, 2017)
from Rs 33.4 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 12.43 crore in 2015-16.
Incentives and margins: The government has
increased the incentive to start a store to Rs 2.5 lakh from Rs 1.5
lakh. The government has also increased the margins from 16% to 20% for
retailers and from 8% to 10% for distributors.
Accessibility: Indian Railways has been roped
in for making cheaper medicines more accessible to people. It plans to
open Jan Aushadhi Kendras at 1,000 railways stations. Petroleum Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan announced in August this year that government would
open Jan Aushadhi stores at PSU-run petrol pumps too.
Source: Economic Times
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