Patna: People in Bihar are estimated to have saved around Rs 2,000 crore over the past 12 years by purchasing medicines from Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras, where generic medicines are sold at significantly lower prices than branded alternatives.
While the government does not maintain state-specific savings data, the estimate is based on the price difference between generic medicines sold through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and comparable branded medicines. At the national level, citizens are estimated to have saved around Rs 45,000 crore during the same period, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Jan Aushadhi Network Expands Across Bihar
Bihar currently has 1,304 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, a sharp increase from fewer than six centres when the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMBJP) was launched in 2014.
The government has also permitted Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras. However, opening such centres remains voluntary and is not mandatory under the policy.
Across the country, 846 PACS have opened Jan Aushadhi Kendras, including 22 in Bihar.
National Expansion Target
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare aims to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras nationwide to 25,000 by March 2027. No state-wise targets have been fixed.
As of July, 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras were operational across India. The scheme began in 2014 with only 80 centres nationwide.
Medicines Available at Lower Prices
Jan Aushadhi medicines are sold at 50% to 80% lower prices than branded medicines. The ministry says this has helped reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure for families while improving access to essential medicines.
The Jan Aushadhi product basket currently includes 2,110 medicines and 315 surgical products and medical devices. These cover major therapeutic categories, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, infections, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders and nutraceuticals.
Medicine Packs Approved in Bihar
In Bihar, 420 medicine packs have been identified for Jan Aushadhi distribution. Of these, 302 have been approved, while 30 drug licences and 26 store codes have been issued.
Across the country, approval has been granted for more than 4,250 medicine packs under the scheme.
Patna Has the Highest Number of Centres
Patna has the largest Jan Aushadhi network in Bihar with 179 centres, followed by Muzaffarpur (122) and East Champaran (103).
Other districts with a high number of centres include Begusarai (67), Siwan (64), Sitamarhi (61), Madhubani (57), Darbhanga (56), Saran (55), Vaishali (51), West Champaran (50) and Samastipur (50).
At the other end, Kishanganj has two centres, while Arwal and Sheikhpura each have four. Other districts include Aurangabad (21), Bhagalpur (28), Bhojpur (22), Buxar (10), Gaya (42), Gopalganj (34), Katihar (14), Khagaria (18), Madhepura (12), Munger (14), Nalanda (20), Purnia (17), Rohtas (18), Saharsa (15), Supaul (24), Araria (11), Arwal (4), Banka (7), Jamui (8), Jehanabad (9), Kaimur (9), Lakhisarai (8), Nawada (6) and others.
Focus on Affordable Healthcare
The Jan Aushadhi initiative is intended to make quality generic medicines more affordable and accessible across the country. Officials say the continued expansion of the network is expected to further reduce household spending on medicines while improving access to essential healthcare services.
