The government is set to expand the coverage of Jan Aushadi scheme by offering 439 life saving medicines including cancer and cardiovascular drugs as well as 250 medical devices like stents and implants at a discount of 40-60%. 300 Jan Aushadi stores will be opened across the country by March and another 3,000 by 2017. Presently only 45 medicines are available in 125 such stores. " The government is concerned about high prices of medicines for critical diseases, thus this scheme has been started to bring down the prices of essential medicines," a government official said.
By opening Jan Aushadi stores government is trying to procure medicines in bulk , directly from companies at discounted price and pass it to customers. The Jan Aushadi Scheme was originally launched in 2008-09 . Though the scheme was ambitious but was not that successfull. Under new plan government has tried to address all the problems and now it Is ready to hit the ground. They have also started an agency - Bureau Public Pharma Public Sector Undertaking of India (BPPI) to implement the scheme. BPPI has been given the responsibility of floating tenders to invite applications for supply of medicines from companies and also to check the supply related issues. The Centre has now also taken into confidence states , which will lead to better coordination.
In India a large number of patients die due to diseases as they can't afford the cost of medicines. India as a nation cannot prosper till every single person in this country has the access to affordable medical care . This scheme is definitely a step in the right direction .
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