Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras

About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBKs):

• PMBKs are set up under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, which was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in November 2008.
• Objective: To provide quality medicines at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor, so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
• PMBKs provides generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• All therapeutic medicines are made available from Jan Aushadhi Stores.
• Jan Aushadhi stores also sell allied medical products commonly sold in chemist shops so as to improve the viability of running the Jan Aushadhi store.
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-coordinating procurement, supply, and marketing of generic drugs through the PMBKs.
• Who can open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra?
  • State Governments or any organization / reputed NGOs / Trusts / Private hospitals / charitable institutions / Doctors / Unemployed pharmacists/ individual entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the new Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

The applicants shall have to employ one B Pharma / D Pharma degree holder as Pharmacist in their proposed store.

 

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Q1) What is a generic drug?

A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use.

Source: Over 9,000 Janaushadhi Kendras in country: Minister