Introduction:
Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi (PMJAY) is a scheme launched by the Government of India in 2008 to provide affordable and quality medicines to the public. The scheme aims to increase the availability of generic drugs, which are cheaper than their branded counterparts but have the same efficacy and safety. Under the PMJAY scheme, over 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened across the country, providing more than 2,700 generic medicines at affordable prices.
What was the AIM of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
The scheme is being implemented by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), which is a public sector undertaking under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The scheme aims to provide affordable medicines to all, especially the weaker and underprivileged sections of society.
The scheme also aims to reduce the dependence on imported drugs, by promoting the use of locally made generic drugs. This not only helps to make medicines more affordable but also helps to create jobs and boost the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
The scheme is also a part of the National Health Policy 2017 and National Health Policy 2020. The main objective is to provide affordable medicines to the people and improve access to medicines across the country. The scheme is also aimed at reducing the out of pocket expenditure on medicines.
PMJAY and National Health Policy:
Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi (PMJAY) scheme is aligned with the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 and National Health Policy 2020, which was formulated by the Government of India to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all citizens of India. The main objective of the NHP is to provide affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens of India.
PMJAY is an important component of the NHP as it aims to provide affordable medicines to the people and improve access to medicines across the country. By reducing the out of pocket expenditure on medicines, PMJAY contributes to the NHP's goal of reducing the financial burden on households from healthcare expenses.
The NHP also focuses on the promotion of generic drugs and the use of locally made generic drugs, which is in line with the objectives of PMJAY.
Implementation and Challenges:
The implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi (PMJAY) scheme has faced some challenges, which include:
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Limited awareness: One of the major challenges faced in the implementation of PMJAY is the limited awareness of the scheme among the public. This has resulted in low footfall in the Jan Aushadhi Stores, which has affected their financial viability.
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Limited availability of medicines: Another challenge faced in the implementation of PMJAY is the limited availability of medicines at the Jan Aushadhi Stores. This has resulted in a lack of trust among the public, which has affected the sales of medicines at the Jan Aushadhi Stores.
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Limited number of Jan Aushadhi Stores: The number of Jan Aushadhi Stores is limited, which makes it difficult for people living in remote areas to access the scheme.
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Limited number of medicines: The number of medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Stores is limited, which makes it difficult for people to find the medicines they need.
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Quality concerns: Some people are hesitant to buy medicines from Jan Aushadhi Stores due to concerns about the quality of the medicines.
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Inadequate infrastructure: The Jan Aushadhi Stores lack proper infrastructure, which makes it difficult for them to function effectively.
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Limited financial incentives: Another challenge faced by the Jan Aushadhi Stores is the limited financial incentives provided by the government, which makes it difficult for them to operate on a sustainable basis.
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Limited human resources: The Jan Aushadhi Stores face a shortage of human resources, which makes it difficult for them to function effectively.
To overcome these challenges, the government has taken several initiatives, such as increasing awareness about the scheme, increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Stores, increasing the number of medicines available at the Jan Aushadhi Stores, providing financial incentives to the Jan Aushadhi Stores, and providing training to the human resources.
Additionally, the government is also working on increasing the use of technology to improve the implementation of the PMJAY scheme, such as using digital platforms to track and monitor the availability of medicines, and using mobile apps to improve the accessibility of the scheme.
User's experience and feedback:
the feedback from users of the PMJAY scheme has been mixed, with some users praising the low cost of medicines and the availability of a wide range of medicines, while others have reported negative experiences such as limited availability of medicines, lack of proper infrastructure, and poor quality of medicines. However, the cost savings achieved by using the generic medicines available under the PMJAY scheme have been widely reported and appreciated by the users.
