PM Narendra Modi interacts with Jan Aushadhi beneficiaries from 5000 locations

Addressing the beneficiaries of the 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana', Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the scheme has helped not only the poor but also the middle class and saved Rs 1,000 crore for common people due to affordable medicine. The Union Government had decided to celebrate 7th March 2019 as 'Jan Aushadhi Diwas' across India, for creating awareness and providing impetus on the use of generic medicines.

"The government had taken two major steps to ensure the availability of high-quality medicines at lower prices. First, the cost of 850 essential medicines was regulated and the prices of heart stent and equipment for knee surgery were reduced. Second, a series of Jan Aushadi Kendras were started throughout the country," said Modi while interacting with the beneficiaries at 5,000 locations.

The Centre on Wednesday said over 5,000 Jan Aushadhi stores, which provide quality drugs at affordable rates, have been opened across the country and another 2,500 will come by 2020. Also, the government is planning to open at least one Jan Aushadhi store in every block.

The generic medicines provided by the Janaushadhi stores are almost 50 to 90 percent cheaper, the prime minister said during an interaction with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) through video conferencing. All the stakeholders related to the health sector are working together to transform the sector, PM said. He said that in the past four and half years, 15 new AIIMs have been either built or are being built and 31,000 MBBS and post-graduation seats in the medical sector have been increased, he added.

The Union Minister of State for Defence, Dr Subhash Bhamre, also inaugurated a Janaushadhi Kendra at the Base Hospital in the National Capital, on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas.