Janaushadhi Diwas Week starts today to spread awareness of generic medicines

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the aegis of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, is celebrating the fourth Janaushadhi Diwas week across the country.

The Janaushadhi Diwas week has commenced today to increase awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.

Today was the first day of the Janaushadhi Diwas week and as decided earlier a Jan AushadhiSankalpPadyatra was held today.

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya's tweet reads, "On the first day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas week today, in the 75th year of independence, a padyatra is being taken out at 75 places across the country to spread awareness about Jan Aushadhi Project and generic medicines. We are committed to ensure that everyone gets the best and affordable medicines under this scheme."

"Various events during the week long celebrations will be conducted with closed coordination of PMBJKs owners, Beneficiaries, State/UT officials, Public Representatives, Doctors, Health Workers, Nurses, Pharmacists, Jan Aushadhi Mitra’s and other stakeholders to discuss about the Scheme, its salient features and achievements. All the activities will be organized within the spirit of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” and several events have been planned at 75 locations. The events have been planned in different cities starting from 1st of March 2022 to 7th March 2022, which will focus on awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, Seminars, participation of children, women and NGO’s, Heritage walks and Health walks and many other activities," says the official notification.

The main event will be held on March 7 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in the presence of Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Bhagwant Khuba.

As of 31st January 2022, the number of stores has increased to 8,675. Under the PMBJP, all 739 districts of the nation have been covered. The scheme ensures easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country. 

The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025. Product basket of PMBJP comprises of 1451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments.

"Further, new medicines and nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, sanitizer, masks, glucometer, oximeter, etc. have been launched. At present three IT enabled warehouses of PMBJP are functional at Gurugram, Chennai & Guwahati and fourth one is ready to start operations at Surat. Further, 39 distributors have been appointed across the country to support the supply of medicines to remote and rural areas," added the notification.

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