Centre seeks view of public on 'Jan Aushadhi Scheme'

With a view to holding wider consultations and to develop a holistic view on the issue of cheaper generic medicines for the common man, the Department Related Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers has invited suggestions from the public on the 'Jan Aushadhi Scheme'.
The Parliamentary Committee, headed by Gopinath Munde, has decided to invite memoranda containing views and suggestions of experts, individuals, institutions, organisations and other stakeholders on the issue.
The panel has said that the issues would include, among others, creation of awareness about Jan Aushadhi Scheme and generic medicines; methodology involved including the prices of medicines; access to quality medicines at affordable prices for all; prescription of generic medicines by the government and private doctors; availability of all the essential and listed medicines at Jan Aushadhi Stores.

It also aims to remove major bottlenecks faced by stockists, Jan Aushadhi Stores, NGOs, hospitals, charitable/ cooperative/government bodies including Red Cross Societies and the state governments affecting the smooth implementation of the scheme.
It said those desirous of submitting suggestions may send two copies to the Lok Sabha secretariat within three weeks and the Committee would later take oral evidence on the subject.
Those making submissions who also wish to appear before the Committee, are requested to specifically indicate so, it said.

Submissions to the Committee would form part of the records and would be treated as confidential, it added.

'Jan Aushadi Campaign' was launched by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers (Department of Pharmaceuticals), in November, 2008, in collaboration with the state governments as a direct market intervention strategy.
The medicines for the campaign are supplied by the Central Pharma PSUs under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Against the proposal of opening one store in each district of 630 districts, only 157 stores have been opened till September 30, 2013 in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.