NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, December 8, 2016

The state government is to launch Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS) in 254 locations across the state with an aim to provide generic drugs at affordable prices. The new scheme will strengthen supply of generic drugs in government-run health centres.

Currently, the state government provides 241 medicines free. With opening of Jan Aushadhi Stores (JAS), number of drugs will go up to 649 medicines along with 161 surgical and consumable items.

“Five new JAS have been proposed for Bhopal. JAS will make available quality medicines at affordable price,” said district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Veena Sinha. JAS began in 2008 with first of the its stores began operating from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal. Union minister of health and family welfare JP Nadda is expected to inaugurate a JAS centre in Bhopal this month, sources said.

On his visit to Jabalpur in November, Nadda announced a drop in price of nearly 2,000 medicines, which will be made available through Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) programme. He was attending a programme at Jabalpur Medical College. Most of these medicines would be made available at 60% less than the MRP, while in some cases, there would be 90% discount.