Over the past five years, the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), overseen by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), has prohibited six pharmaceutical suppliers from providing medications to Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) due to their failure to adhere to quality standards.
The Bureau currently collaborates with approximately 206 pharmaceutical manufacturers, responsible for delivering a range of products, including medications, surgical tools, nutraceuticals, and ayurvedic items. This information has been confirmed by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
Anupriya Patel, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, recently updated the Lok Sabha on the situation. Among the companies blacklisted in the past five years are ANG Lifescience India, Combitic Global Caplet, Ridley Life Science, Kamal Healthcare Products, Cosmos Research Lab, and Athens Life Sciences.
“To maintain product quality, PMBI secures medicines exclusively from suppliers certified with World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP). Drugs undergo testing at laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) before delivery to Jan Aushadhi Kendras, ensuring they meet quality checks,” the minister pointed out.
Products for PMBJP are centrally procured through an open tendering process on the Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) facilitated by NIC for rate contracts.
Prominent pharmaceutical firms like Cipla Ltd, Zydus Lifesciences, Lupin Ltd, Mankind Pharma, Biocon Biologics, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Healthcare, Macleods Pharmaceuticals, MSN Laboratories, Wockhardt Ltd, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, BDR Pharmaceuticals, Eris Lifesciences, FDC Ltd, among others, are part of the supplier line-up for the JAKs.
Since the financial year 2019-20 through to 2024-25 (as of October 31, 2024), 10,404 JAKs have opened nationwide under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
Uttar Pradesh has led the way with the most Kendras established during this timeframe, with 1,888 JAKs, followed by Kerala with 1,076, Karnataka with 959, Tamil Nadu with 876, and Bihar with 612, as recorded by the Ministry’s data.
The PMBJP aims to have 25,000 JAKs operational nationwide by March 31, 2027.
To ensure a steady supply and availability of medicines at Janaushadhi Kendras, PMBI, the scheme’s implementing agency, has established a network of five warehouses located in Gurugram, Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru, and Surat. The warehouse in Bengaluru caters to JAKs in Karnataka, including in Shimoga.
These are supported by SAP-based inventory management systems for demand prediction. The marketing and procurement team at PMBI consistently monitor inventory levels and medicine availability at JAKs. A Point of Sales (PoS) application offers Kendra owners easy access for medicine procurement.
Furthermore, PMBI has an extensive distribution network of 36 distributors across the country. It conducts direct medicine supplies to JAKs in Karnataka via three distributors stationed in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubli.