The Inside Story Of Jan Aushadhi Kendras

The centre’s PMBJP is an ambitious scheme which certainly provides generics at affordable rates but more efforts are required to make it really successful

- Akanki Sharma

A month ago, RajivSharma (49), a resident of Ghaziabad, visited a Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK) to get clobazam and sodium valproate tablets. The storekeeper, however, told him that the medicines were out of stock. He then asked for thyroxine sodium tablets for his wife but it was unfortunate to even get that. Quite disappointed, he returned home empty-handed as he could not afford branded tablets.

Sangeeta (24), also a resident of Ghaziabad, visited Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar multi-specialty hospital in Noida to get antidiabetics for her mother. She said, “We will be going to our village in two-three days. So, keeping her medicines in stock for the next 15 days is a must because I do not know where to get the same medicines in Bihar.” Additionally, she wasn’t able to get any medicines for her infant, who was suffering from fever and cough.

Similarly, Yoginder Kumar (35) had come to get a cough syrup for his one-year-old child at the same JAK. The note on the window there read, "Bacchon ki dawaiyan 28 tareekh ke baad milengi (the medicines for kids will be available after 28th September)." He too left with a sad face. Most of the parents had to do the same that day. Next in line was 50-years-old Urmila Devi from one of the villages in Noida, who often visits this JAK to get calcium carbonate 500 mg + calcitriol 0.25MCG + zinc 7.5 mg capsules. However, the tablets were not available on that particular day. A little disheartened, she said, "I frequently come here to get medicines as they keep me healthy and are available at a very cheap rate. Every time I get it, but it is sad that it is out of stock this time."

This has been one of the oft-repeated problems with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). To understand where the challenges in the scheme lie, we have to understand how these centers are set up and operate.