Meta Description: Explore the landmark achievement in India’s healthcare as Prime Minister Modi inaugurates the 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra, surpassing the March 2024 target. Learn about the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and its impact on providing quality medicines at significantly lower prices, benefiting the economically vulnerable.
In a historic stride for India’s healthcare system, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) at AIIMS in Deoghar last week. Surpassing the March 2024 target well ahead of schedule, this achievement signifies a crucial step in the PMBJP initiative, dedicated to delivering affordable and high-quality medicines. PM Modi, during the inauguration, underscored the pivotal role of these kendras, offering medications at 50%-90% lower prices than the market rates, thus catering to the needs of both the poor and the middle class.
Understanding the context of PMBJP’s inception is essential. Despite India’s global recognition as a major exporter of generic medicines, the nation faced a paradoxical challenge. A significant portion of its population, particularly the economically disadvantaged, lacked access to reasonably priced medications. The out-of-pocket health expenditure was alarmingly high, reaching almost 70% in 2004-05, leading numerous families into financial distress. It was against this backdrop that the department of pharmaceuticals launched PMBJP in 2008.
The initial years witnessed modest growth, with only 80 kendras by 2015. However, a transformative shift began to unfold thereafter. By December 2023, the scheme expanded to over 10,000 kendras, making available a diverse range of nearly 2000 drugs and 300 surgical items across almost all Indian districts. In the fiscal year 2022-23, PMBJP achieved sales amounting to ₹1,236 crore, demonstrating a robust year-on-year growth of 38%, surpassing even the government’s revised targets. This remarkable progress underscores the success and impact of PMBJP in revolutionizing the accessibility and affordability of healthcare for millions across the nation.