Government to set up 1,000 Janaushadhi Kendras

The central government on Wednesday said it aims to set up 1,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) in both urban and rural areas as part of its "Mission 3000" Kendras.

The central government aims to open 3,000 PMBJKs by March 2017.

According to Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the 'Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India' (BPPI) and 'National Yuva Cooperative Society' (NYCS) towards the initiative.

Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Parliamentary Affairs H.N. Ananth Kumar said the number of Janaushadhi Kendras has increased to 750 stores, thereby clocking a seven-fold jump in the last two-and-half years.

"Around 20,000 applications have already been received and over 5,000 have been accorded in-principle approval for setting up of Janaushadhi Kendras in the country," the minister was quoted as saying in a statement.

"Government envisions to establish Janaushadhi kendras in every block and gram panchayat across the country."

The minister elaborated that the government is trying to promote the indigenous generic drug industry and make it globally competitive.

Currently, the central government is providing financial support of up to Rs 2.5 lakh in the form of assistance to the kendras which are set up in state-run hospitals and incentives to individuals, with special and softer terms to SC, ST and differently-abled persons.

PMBJK is an initiative of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers with a mission to make quality medicines accessible to all citizens of the country at affordable prices.

The BPPI is the nodal implementation agency for the PMBJK Scheme.

--IANS

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