Parliament panel for hike in one-time grant for Jan Aushadhi stores

Panel says this amount will be needed to achieve target of 3,000 outlets by 2016-17

An increase in one time grant by Rs 1 lakh each for the opening of Jan Aushadhi stores will be needed to achieve the target of 3,000 outlets by 2016-17, a Parliamentary panel has suggested.

Jan Aushadhi stores are aimed at making quality medicines available at affordable prices.

Besides, the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers in its report on Jan Aushadhi Scheme also called for improving the functioning of Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertaking India (BPPI) for better co-ordination among state-owned pharmaceutical undertakings for increasing production of drugs listed in Jan Aushadhi stores.

Under the new business plan approved in August 2013, "a target of opening 3,000 stores during the 12th plan period ie from 2013-14 to 2016-17 has been fixed", the report said.

For this the Department of Pharmaceuticals should examine the possibility of increasing the one time grant from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh as an establishment cost for opening Jan Aushadhi stores (JAS) in the country, it said.

"...During the course of examination of the subject, it was brought to the notice of the committee that one-time grant for opening of Jan Aushadhi stores is not sufficient and the amount should be increased to Rs 3.5 lakh as the earlier rate was fixed in 2008," the report said.

The committee noted that till date only 170 JAS have been opened, of which only 99 are functional, clearly shows that Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertaking India (BPPI) has not been effective in its functioning.

"The committee, therefore, recommends that the Department should take remedial measures for improving functioning of BPPI so that the opening and maintenance of JAS and availability of medicines therein could be done in an effective and efficient manner."

It also noted that non-availability of all the listed medicines in JAS defeats the very purpose for which these stores were opened.

It recommended that BPPI and the department should take immediate steps to increase production of drugs listed in JAS by the CPSUs and also to expedite the process of undertaking contracts for acquiring medicines from the private pharma manufacturers.

The report also emphasised that the supply chain for timely provision of JAS should be strengthened and streamlined.