Govt to open 1,000 Jan Aushadi stores for cheaper medicines

In order to provide medicines at rates that are 60-70 per cent lower than market prices, the government will soon open 1,000 more Jan Aushadi stores across the country.
The stores will be renamed, rebranded and involve B. Pharma and M. Pharma qualified unemployed populace, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Ahir said today.
"These stores will be opened for the underprivileged who would be provided medicines at a price of 60-70 per cent less than the market price," Ahir said in a statement.
The ministry is working on opening all these 1000 stores under the 'Jan Aushadhi Scheme' on a single day, he said.

Jan Aushadi was started in 2008 and around 100 stores are operating under the scheme. In August 2013, the government had approved a plan to open 3,000 more stores during the 12th Plan period - from 2013-14 to 2016-17.
Meanwhile, Officials of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme has been regularly holding meetings with various stake holders in this regard.