Around 3,000 Jan Aushadhi stores to be opened in two years

Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India inks MoU with CISSIL, to open 100 stores across Kerala by November this year

Under the Centre’s ambitious scheme to provide affordable and quality generic medicines to all, especially the poor, at least 3,000 Jan Aushadhi stores will be opened in two years across the country, a top official said in Kochi recently.

MD Sreekumar, Chief Executive Officer, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) said that within two month, at least 425 generic medicines will be made available through around 184 Jan Aushadhi Stores which are in operation in various states and Union Territories.

“We will achieve the target of 3,000 Jan Aushadhi outlets across the country by 2016-17. At least 300 stores will be there in the country before March 31, 2016,” Sreekumar said.

He was talking to reporters after inking an MoU with CISSIL, a retail chain that will open 100 stores across Kerala by November this year. As per the MoU, CISSIL will sell the generic medicines through the Jan Aushadhi Stores to be opened in their super markets.

Sreekumar said Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India would provide one-time assistance of Rs 2.50 lakhs as furnishing and establishment costs, start up cost for setting up a Jan Aushadhi Outlet.

Any NGO/charitable society/institution/self help group with experience of minimum three years of successful operation in welfare activities, can also open the Jan Aushadhi store outside the hospital premises.

Over dependence on support from state government, poor supply chain management, non-prescription of generic medicines by doctors, state governments launching free supply of drugs and lack of awareness among the public were some of the reasons why there is a delay in picking up the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, he said.