In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Anupriya Patel stated that almost all generic medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines, except lab reagents and vaccines, are part of the product basket.
Number of steps have been taken to ensure effective and regular supply of medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs). Since September 2024, stocking by JAKs of 200 commonly used medicines, consisting of the 100 top-selling medicines in the scheme product basket and 100 fast-selling medicines in the market, has been incentivised, under which JAK owners are eligible for monthly incentive based on the stocks that they maintain of these medicines.
An end-to-end information-technology-enabled supply chain system is in place to connect a robust supply chain system consisting of one central warehouse, four regional warehouses and a growing network of distributors across the country, currently numbering 39.
In addition, with a view to ensure availability of commonly used products, 400 fast-moving products are monitored regularly by the scheme implementing agency Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and demand for the same is forecasted on an ongoing basis.
Further, steps have been taken to digitise the forecasting method to augment the procurement process through automation.
As a result, the sale of medicines from JAKs has increased from maximum retail price value totalling Rs 1,470 crore in the financial year (FY) 2023-24 to Rs 2,022.47 crore in FY2024-25.
While about 15 lakh consumers purchase Janaushadhi daily across the country, the number of grievances lodged during the whole year in FY2024-25 was 2,102, which translates into a grievance registration rate of less than 0.0004%.
With a view to ensure quality of medicines available at JAKs so that health of patients is not compromised, concrete mechanisms have been put in place to ensure continuous inspection, testing and standardisation, including the following:
- Supply only from WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certified plants: Only plants that are certified as WHO-GMP compliant by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) after direct inspection are eligible for supply.
- Distribution only after 100% pre-testing of all medicine batches: Samples are drawn from 100% of batches supplied at PMBI’s warehouses for testing anonymously, and medicines are dispatched for supply to JAKs only after the quality test is passed.
- Testing only at labs compliant with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP): Samples are tested only at labs accredited and periodically inspected by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and, in addition, assessed by PMBI for GLP compliance.
Read also: DoP identifies 11,100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India as Outdoor Cleaning Sites
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