NEW DELHI: The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has significantly eased the healthcare burden on citizens, helping them save an estimated ₹45,000 crore on medicine purchases over the past 12 years. The savings were achieved by expanding access to affordable, high-quality generic medicines through a rapidly growing network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs).
Providing a progress report on the scheme, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Friday that the initiative has substantially reduced out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures for households, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.
According to Ministry data, 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras were fully operational across the country as of June 30, 2026. The expansive network now actively covers 776 out of the country’s 784 districts.
A Growing Product Basket
The PMBJP product basket currently offers a comprehensive range of affordable healthcare products:
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2,110 medicines
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315 surgical items, medical consumables, and devices
These cover all major therapeutic categories, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, infections, allergies, and nutraceuticals. The government noted that almost all generic medicines listed in the National List of Essential Medicines—excluding laboratory reagents and vaccines—are available under the scheme.
The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the central implementing agency, regularly evaluates the performance and sales of these Kendras to ensure the continuous availability of quality medicines.
Supply Chain and Financial Incentives
To ensure an uninterrupted supply and minimize stockouts, the Ministry has fortified its IT-enabled distribution network, which currently comprises one central warehouse, four regional warehouses, and a growing network of nationwide distributors.
Furthermore, to incentivize store operators, Kendras are rewarded based on their ability to maintain stocks of 200 commonly used medicines—comprising the 100 top-selling PMBJP products and 100 fast-selling market medicines.
Grassroots Awareness and Inclusive Growth
To combat misconceptions regarding the efficacy of generic medicines, the PMBI actively conducts outreach campaigns in collaboration with the Central Bureau of Communication, MyGov, and MY Bharat. These initiatives span social media, radio, a dedicated WhatsApp chatbot, street plays in rural areas, and the annual observance of ‘Jan Aushadhi Week’ in early March.
The Ministry is also strongly promoting the franchise-based model to foster entrepreneurship among marginalized groups and in underserved regions. Special financial incentives of ₹2 lakh are provided for establishing Jan Aushadhi Kendras in:
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North-Eastern states, Himalayan regions, island territories, and Aspirational Districts.
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Outlets opened by women, ex-servicemen, persons with disabilities, and members of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Applications for opening new outlets continue to be invited online from individual entrepreneurs, NGOs, and private companies to further bridge the gap in districts with limited coverage.
