Despite the great hardship caused due to the lockdown, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the Union Territory continued to provide quality generic medicines at cheaper rates to all, and at the doorstep for certain patients and elderlies, leading to record sales.
“At a time when the entire focus shifted to tackling COVID 19 pandemic, and the lockdown posed problems in the procurement and logistics of almost every commodity, the Jan Aushadhi Kendras worked to provide people with affordable generic medicines and ensure that other health ailments of the populace were not ignored,” says Rifat Nazir, PMBJP Coordinator, J&K, stationed at Srinagar.
“Notably, the Jan Aushadhi Kendras here, were able to achieve a total sale of more than Rs 2.50 Crore, and register an increase in the number of beneficiaries as well during the lockdown months. Prior to the lockdown, the monthly sale was nearly Rs 1.20 Crore,” she reveals.
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One of the factors responsible for the surge in sales, she thinks, can be – people suffering financially and medically during the lockdown saw a ray of hope in the Jan Aushadi Kendras that were providing quality but affordable healthcare. Rising awareness of the government’s initiative also helped.
“Our Kendra had sufficient stock availability of medicines, masks, sanitizers, etc. Also, we all were home delivering the medicines to the people who could not come out with restrictions in place, such as the elderly and seriously ill patients,” says Imran Aziz from Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Budgam.
Further, Rifat tells, “With women’s uninterrupted access to menstrual hygiene in mind and in accordance with directions from the National Health Mission, Suvidha sanitary napkins available at subsidized rates were supplied to all the Kendras.”
Latish Sharma from Jan Aushadhi Kendra near SMGS Hospital says, “Several NGOs and social associations procured Suvidha sanitary napkins from our store to be able to help disadvantaged girls in slums, or far-flung and interior areas.”
The beneficiaries have the contact numbers of the Kendra owners or operators, to enquire about the availability of their medicines, a suitable time to visit or place an order. In addition, a mobile app ‘Jan Aushadhi Sugam’ lets people locate the nearest Kendra, search the medicines, compare the branded and generic medicine and so on.
“The shutters of Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened for the beneficiaries every day. However, those Kendras within the hospitals had to be shifted to some other place in view of the coronavirus tackling efforts,” Rifat mentions.
Moreover, to maintain the supply chain, the J&K’s PMBJP Coordinator framed a weekly roster and asked the distributors to dispatch medicines to the Jan Aushadhi Kendras in all the districts, contrary to the usual practice of Kendra owners coming to the distributors.
“We continued to receive medicines and medical equipment from BPPI Central Warehouse Gurgaon at our godowns in Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Our senior officers extended full cooperation during these trying times. We look to proceed with the new practice after lockdown too, besides expecting more improvements,” she remarks.
Meanwhile, a section of Kendra owners differs from the claims like ‘sufficient and regular stock supply’, or ‘increase in sales’, or ‘Kendras running their business for the permitted hours’.
“The supply was delayed and inadequate. Our Kendras were forced to shut before time. This made our customers – the patients, suffer and lose trust in us. There has to be a balance between demand and supply to achieve the objective of the initiative,” says Latish.
“Lockdown meant that the patients from far off rural places couldn’t come to the Kendra, as there was no public transport. Usually, these patients bought a weekly or monthly stock of essential medicines that could last until their next visit to the doctor. As such, it can be argued that some Kendras incurred losses during this time,” he adds.
The aggrieved Kendra owners even point out that they were not supplied sanitizers, hand gloves, masks for sale from the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), that is, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI).
They say, “It is time that Jammu division has its own PMBJP nodal officer to support us and address our issues.”
The ambitious scheme has been providing over 900 quality generic medicines and 154 medical equipment and consumable at cheaper prices for all, through its 6300 plus Kendras across the nation, of which 93 are functioning in J&K and Ladakh UTs.
Also: Read my article at THE NEWS NOW
Amidst Covid lockdown, Jan Aushadhi centres proved godsend for patients
waliaharry 
Great job Harry
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Jan Aushadhi kendra District Hospital Kargil is out of stock. For last 10 month.. So plz see the matter seriously.
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Mr Abdul, I have been informed that the Jan Aushadi Kendra in question has some outstanding payment. A fresh order for medicines can then be placed.
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