Central government planning to transform Jan Aushadhi Kendras into modern flagship outlets

The Central government is working on a significant plan to make Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating across the country more capable and modern. According to a report by Mint, the government will transform high-performing Jan Aushadhi Kendras into modern flagship outlets. The primary objective of this new initiative is to improve the availability of medicines and raise the standards of this network of affordable generic medicines. This change is being implemented at a time when the government aims to increase the number of these stores from the current 21,663 to 25,000 by March 2027.

Under this scheme, specific criteria have been set to determine which centres will be upgraded. According to documents prepared by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and statements from government officials, this selection will be based on the sales, growth potential, and location of the stores. Priority will be given particularly to stores located near hospitals and more crowded medical centres. For this purpose, a benchmark has been set at a monthly turnover of ₹10 lakh in metro cities, ₹7.5 lakh in non-metro cities with a population of over 10 lakh, and ₹3 lakh in other urban centres.

To make these modern outlets more functional, PMBI will provide them with a primary supply of the top 400 medicines. Additionally, digital promotional screens, point-of-purchase branding material, and PMBI visual banners will be installed in the stores. A government official stated that it is not possible to provide this facility to all stores as sales are not uniform across each, but stores that are performing well will be provided with facilities such as better credit facilities and monitoring. A circular issued by the Chief Executive Officer of PMBI stated that these model outlets will serve as examples for other centres in terms of customer service, stock management, reducing medicine expiry, and effective use of the Point of Sale (POS) system.

A spokesperson for the Department of Pharmaceuticals stated that the aim of this approach is to develop high-performing outlets as benchmarks, which will also impact other surrounding centres. This will strengthen product availability across the entire network and increase customer satisfaction. Public health experts are also welcoming this decision. According to Dr. Ashish Chaudhary, Managing Director of Akash Healthcare, Jan Aushadhi Kendras are an important medium for delivering affordable generic medicines to the last person. The modernisation of these centres and improvement in inventory will greatly benefit common citizens.

Established under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), these centres have for years been providing generic medicines, surgical instruments, and wellness products at much lower prices compared to branded medicines. The objective of this scheme has been to make healthcare services more accessible and affordable for the general public. Now, through this modernisation, the government is committed to increasing consumer trust and enhancing the healthcare service experience.