India’s Jan Aushadhi Scheme Empowers Women; Expands Network With 25,000 Kendras By 2027

India’s Jan Aushadhi scheme continues to make strides in providing affordable, quality medicines. Ravi Dadhich, CEO of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), revealed that 6,000 out of the 15,057 outlets are run by women.

This highlights the dual impact of the scheme – improving healthcare access and supporting women’s financial independence.

Speaking on Jan Aushadhi Diwas, celebrated on March 7, Dadhich discussed the scheme’s impressive growth. He shared, “In the last year, we opened 4,500 kendras, or one every two hours.”

The government is committed to expanding the network further, setting a target to open 25,000 kendras by March 2027.

Top-Selling Drugs And Strong Store Performances

The scheme has proven popular, with certain drugs seeing high demand. Telmisartan 40 (for hypertension), Pantoprazole Domperidone (for acid reflux), Metformin Glimepiride (for diabetes), and Atorvastatin (for cardiovascular health) are the top sellers.

The Ranchi store in Jharkhand recorded Rs 4 crore in annual sales, leading the country. Other high-performing stores include those in Jammu, Dehradun, Chandigarh, and Patna.

Uttar Pradesh Leads State Sales

Uttar Pradesh led all states in sales, generating Rs 284 crore last year. Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu followed, with sales of Rs 235 crore, Rs 198 crore, Rs 170 crore, and Rs 160 crore, respectively.

The scheme has exceeded expectations and is on track to reach Rs 2,000 crore in revenue this financial year. This represents nearly double the turnover of Rs 890 crore in 2022.

Jan Aushadhi Diwas, celebrated on March 7, aims to raise awareness about affordable generic medicines.

From March 1 to 7, events across India promote the scheme’s benefits. Launched in 2008, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) seeks to make quality medicines more accessible through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK).

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