Jan Aushadhi to distribute essential medicines

In a move to provide essential medicines to ‘aam adami’ (commoners), the government has planned to open cheaper drug stores with the tag name of ‘Jan Aushadhi’ at public-private partnership in every state depending upon the financial aid and support by the respective states.

As a trial, first ‘Jan Aushadhi’ has been opened in Civil Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab on November 25, 2008, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers informed in a written statement in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

These generic stores would provide most common unbranded drugs sold with the name of salts like paracetamol (for fever), cetirizine (anti-allergic), ciprofloxin (antibiotic) etc. used for most common dieses at subsidised rates.

For establishing and operating these stores, government would take help of some specific non-government organisations (NGOs) including Red Cross Society, while public sector drug manufactures and Bureau of Pharma have been asked to ensure the availability of medicines at all ‘Jan Aushadhi’ centres.

The list of medicines is finalised in consultation with state governments. Bureau of Pharma Central Public Sector Undertakings has been asked to ensure availability of medicines at all ‘Jan Aushadhi’ generic drug stores keeping in view the requirement of each state.