Parliament Question: Expansion of PMBJKs to Reduce Healthcare Costs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4712 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20TH MARCH 2026 Expansion of PMBJKs to Reduce Healthcare Costs 4712. Shri Arun Bharti: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has revised the target to operationalize twenty-five thousand Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by March 2027 given the overwhelming public response received by the scheme, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the rationale is to ensure that every Block in the country has access to generic medicines that are fifty to ninety per cent cheaper than branded equivalents, if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of the new "Incentive Structure" (up to five Lakh) provided to entrepreneurs, particularly women and SC/STs, to open the said Kendras in aspirational districts of the country, district-wise; (d) the safeguards regarding "Quality Assurance" where medicines are procured only from World Health Organization - Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers and tested in National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories National Accreditation Board (NABL) labs; and (e) the manner in which the said massive expansion reduces the "Out-of-Pocket Expenditure" (OOPE) on healthcare for the common man, fulfilling the promise of "Swasth Bharat"? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a) and (b): The Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana scheme to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all. Under the scheme, dedicated outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are opened across the country to provide medicines at rates that are about 50% to 80% cheaper than those of branded medicines. As of 28.02.2026, a total of 18,646 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country under the scheme. With a view to augment the reach of Janaushadhi scheme to the citizens, Government has set a target of increasing the number of JAKs opened across the country to 25,000 by March 2027.(c): Under the scheme, incentive to JAK owners is given at a rate of 10% of monthly purchases of Janaushadhi products purchased from Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), subject to a ceiling of ₹10,000 per month. In addition, JAK owners are also provided incentive of up to ₹10,000 per month for maintaining requisite stock of 200 high-demand products. Further, a one-time special incentive of ₹2 lakh for setting up JAK is given for JAKs opened in the North-Eastern States, Himalayan areas, island territories and backward areas notified as Aspirational Districts by NITI Aayog, and to those JAKs that are opened by entrepreneurs of certain eligible categories, including ex-servicemen, women, divyangjan and members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. (d): 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: (i) 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. (ii) 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. (iii) 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. (e): During the past 11 years, total savings of ₹ 40,000 crores by way of reduced “Out-of-Pocket Expenditure” on medicines on account of use of Janaushadhi Products. *****